Chapter 07: Medications and Older Adults
Williams: Basic Geriatric Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The patient reports “My medications keep sticking in my throat.” Which response will the
nurse appropriately make?
a. Suggesting taking all the pills at one time with a mouthful of water
b. Offering the patient one pill at a time
c. Crushing all the pills and mixing them in the patient’s breakfast cereal
d. Offering a sip of water before and after each pill
ANS: D
Offering water before and after administration counteracts the dry mouth that causes
the pills to stick. Offering one pill at a time without water does not address the
problem of sticking.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: p. 151 OBJ: 8
TOP: Pill Administration KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort NOT:
Applying
2. Which technique is the correct method of administering a transdermal medication patch?
a. Apply the patch at the same site every day and carry out documentation.
b. Fold and dispose of the used patch in the sharps container.
c. Warm the patch in the hands before applying.
d. Cover the patch with tape to prevent dislodgement.
, ANS: B
The used patch should be folded with the sticky sides together and disposed of in the
sharps container for environmental safety.
PTS: 1 DIF: 4 REF: Box 7-4 | p. 152
OBJ: 8 TOP: Transdermal Patches
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies NOT:
Applying
3. When the nurse offers a pill to the older adult patient, the patient asks, “What is this and
what is it for?” Which response is the appropriate response by the nurse?
a. “I’m not at liberty to discuss your medication. You need to talk to your doctor.”
b. “That’s a ‘feel good’ pill that will make you feel better.”
c. “It’s a cephalosporin that has been ordered to treat your URI.”
d. “It’s an antibiotic for the infection in your urine.”
ANS: D
Patients have the right to know what they are taking and given a reasonable rationale
for its use that they can understand. The answer “it’s an antibiotic for the infection in
your urine” is easily understood by most patients. The answer “It’s a cephalosporin
that has been ordered to treat your URI” uses medical terminology and abbreviations
the patient may not understand.
PTS: 1 DIF: 6 REF: p. 153 OBJ: 9
TOP: Right to Know KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort NOT:
Applying
, 4. When the 80-year-old patient refuses to take a medication because it causes stomach
burning, which action should be taken by the nurse?
a. Crush the pill and mix it with the dessert on her meal tray.
b. Insist that she take it “for her own good.”
c. Circle and initial the dose time to show non-administration.
d. Document the reason for refusal and report the refusal to the charge nurse.
ANS: D
The nurse should carry out documentation of the reason for refusal and report the
refusal. Crushing the medication and hiding it is unethical. The nurse should not insist
the patient take the medication, especially since the medication causes stomach
burning. Circling and initialing the dose to show non-administration is not the best
answer because not all facilities use this technique to indicate the non-administration.
That response also does not mention notification of the primary care provider.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: pp. 151-153 OBJ: 9
TOP: Refusal of Treatment KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordination Care NOT:
Applying
5. Which symptom is associated with a theophylline overdose?
a. Tachycardia
b. Confusion
c. Hypotension
d. Constipation
ANS: A
Tachycardia is a significant side effect of theophylline.
PTS: 1 DIF: 4 REF: Table 7-5 | p. 149
OBJ: 6 TOP: Drug Overdose
Williams: Basic Geriatric Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The patient reports “My medications keep sticking in my throat.” Which response will the
nurse appropriately make?
a. Suggesting taking all the pills at one time with a mouthful of water
b. Offering the patient one pill at a time
c. Crushing all the pills and mixing them in the patient’s breakfast cereal
d. Offering a sip of water before and after each pill
ANS: D
Offering water before and after administration counteracts the dry mouth that causes
the pills to stick. Offering one pill at a time without water does not address the
problem of sticking.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: p. 151 OBJ: 8
TOP: Pill Administration KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort NOT:
Applying
2. Which technique is the correct method of administering a transdermal medication patch?
a. Apply the patch at the same site every day and carry out documentation.
b. Fold and dispose of the used patch in the sharps container.
c. Warm the patch in the hands before applying.
d. Cover the patch with tape to prevent dislodgement.
, ANS: B
The used patch should be folded with the sticky sides together and disposed of in the
sharps container for environmental safety.
PTS: 1 DIF: 4 REF: Box 7-4 | p. 152
OBJ: 8 TOP: Transdermal Patches
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies NOT:
Applying
3. When the nurse offers a pill to the older adult patient, the patient asks, “What is this and
what is it for?” Which response is the appropriate response by the nurse?
a. “I’m not at liberty to discuss your medication. You need to talk to your doctor.”
b. “That’s a ‘feel good’ pill that will make you feel better.”
c. “It’s a cephalosporin that has been ordered to treat your URI.”
d. “It’s an antibiotic for the infection in your urine.”
ANS: D
Patients have the right to know what they are taking and given a reasonable rationale
for its use that they can understand. The answer “it’s an antibiotic for the infection in
your urine” is easily understood by most patients. The answer “It’s a cephalosporin
that has been ordered to treat your URI” uses medical terminology and abbreviations
the patient may not understand.
PTS: 1 DIF: 6 REF: p. 153 OBJ: 9
TOP: Right to Know KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort NOT:
Applying
, 4. When the 80-year-old patient refuses to take a medication because it causes stomach
burning, which action should be taken by the nurse?
a. Crush the pill and mix it with the dessert on her meal tray.
b. Insist that she take it “for her own good.”
c. Circle and initial the dose time to show non-administration.
d. Document the reason for refusal and report the refusal to the charge nurse.
ANS: D
The nurse should carry out documentation of the reason for refusal and report the
refusal. Crushing the medication and hiding it is unethical. The nurse should not insist
the patient take the medication, especially since the medication causes stomach
burning. Circling and initialing the dose to show non-administration is not the best
answer because not all facilities use this technique to indicate the non-administration.
That response also does not mention notification of the primary care provider.
PTS: 1 DIF: 5 REF: pp. 151-153 OBJ: 9
TOP: Refusal of Treatment KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordination Care NOT:
Applying
5. Which symptom is associated with a theophylline overdose?
a. Tachycardia
b. Confusion
c. Hypotension
d. Constipation
ANS: A
Tachycardia is a significant side effect of theophylline.
PTS: 1 DIF: 4 REF: Table 7-5 | p. 149
OBJ: 6 TOP: Drug Overdose
