NR 508 week 8 Questions and
Answers with complete
solution2025/2026(Graded A+)
Principles of prescribing for older adults include:
1. Avoiding prescribing any newer high-cost medications
2. Starting at a low dose and increasing the dose slowly
3. Keeping the total dose at a lower therapeutic range
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. Starting at a low dose and increasing the dose
slowly
Sadie is a 90-year-old patient who requires a new prescription. What changes in drug distribution with
aging would influence prescribing for Sadie?
1. Increased volume of distribution
2. Decreased lipid solubility
3. Decreased plasma proteins
4. Increased muscle-to-fat ratio - CORRECT ANSWERS 3. Decreased plasma proteins
Glen is an 82-year-old patient who needs to be prescribed a new drug. What changes in elimination
should be taken into consideration when prescribing for Glen?
1. Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) will require higher doses of some renally excreted drugs.
2. Decreased tubular secretion of medication will require dosage adjustments.
3. Thin skin will cause increased elimination via sweat.
4. Decreased lung capacity will lead to measurable decreases in lung excretion of drugs. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 2. Decreased tubular secretion of medication will require dosage adjustments.
A medication review of an elderly person's medications involves:
,1. Asking the patient to bring a list of current prescription medications to the visit
2. Having the patient bring all of their prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications to the visit
3. Asking what other providers are writing prescriptions for them
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. All of the above
Steps to avoid polypharmacy include:
1. Prescribing two or fewer drugs from each drug class
2. Reviewing a complete drug history every 12 to 18 months
3. Encouraging the elderly patient to coordinate their care with all of their providers
4. Evaluating for duplications in drug therapy and discontinuing any duplications - CORRECT ANSWERS
4. Evaluating for duplications in drug therapy and discontinuing any duplications
Robert is a 72-year-old patient who has hypertension and angina. He is at risk for common medication
practices seen in the elderly including:
1. Use of another person's medications
2. Hoarding medications
3. Changing his medication regimen without telling his provider
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. All of the above
To improve positive outcomes when prescribing for the elderly the nurse practitioner should:
1. Assess cognitive functioning in the elder
2. Encourage the patient to take a weekly "drug holiday" to keep drug costs down
3. Encourage the patient to cut drugs in half with a knife to lower costs
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Assess cognitive functioning in the elder
When an elderly diabetic patient is constipated the best treatment options include:
, 1. Mineral oil
2. Bulk-forming laxatives such as psyllium
3. Stimulant laxatives such as senna
4. Stool softeners such as docusate - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. Stool softeners such as docusate
Delta is an 88-year-old patient who has mild low-back pain. What guidelines should be followed when
prescribing pain management for Delta?
1. Keep the dose of oxycodone low to prevent development of tolerance.
2. Acetaminophen is the first-line drug of choice.
3. Avoid prescribing NSAIDs.
4. Add in a short-acting benzodiazepine for a synergistic effect on pain. - CORRECT ANSWERS
2. Acetaminophen is the first-line drug of choice.
Robert is complaining of poor sleep. Medications that may contribute to sleep problems in the elderly
include:
1. Diuretics
2. Trazodone
3. Clonazepam
4. Levodopa - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Diuretics
The GFRs for a 91-year-old woman who weighs 93 pounds and is 5'1" with a serum creatinine of 1.1, and
for a 202-pound, 25-year-old male who is 5'9" with the same serum creatinine according to the
Cockcroft Gault formula are:
1. 25ml/ min and 133 mL/min respectively
2. 25 mL/min and 103 mL/min respectively
3. 22 ml/min and 133 mL/min respectively
4. 22 ml/min and 103 mL/min respectively - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. 25 mL/min and 103 mL/min
respectively
Answers with complete
solution2025/2026(Graded A+)
Principles of prescribing for older adults include:
1. Avoiding prescribing any newer high-cost medications
2. Starting at a low dose and increasing the dose slowly
3. Keeping the total dose at a lower therapeutic range
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. Starting at a low dose and increasing the dose
slowly
Sadie is a 90-year-old patient who requires a new prescription. What changes in drug distribution with
aging would influence prescribing for Sadie?
1. Increased volume of distribution
2. Decreased lipid solubility
3. Decreased plasma proteins
4. Increased muscle-to-fat ratio - CORRECT ANSWERS 3. Decreased plasma proteins
Glen is an 82-year-old patient who needs to be prescribed a new drug. What changes in elimination
should be taken into consideration when prescribing for Glen?
1. Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) will require higher doses of some renally excreted drugs.
2. Decreased tubular secretion of medication will require dosage adjustments.
3. Thin skin will cause increased elimination via sweat.
4. Decreased lung capacity will lead to measurable decreases in lung excretion of drugs. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 2. Decreased tubular secretion of medication will require dosage adjustments.
A medication review of an elderly person's medications involves:
,1. Asking the patient to bring a list of current prescription medications to the visit
2. Having the patient bring all of their prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications to the visit
3. Asking what other providers are writing prescriptions for them
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. All of the above
Steps to avoid polypharmacy include:
1. Prescribing two or fewer drugs from each drug class
2. Reviewing a complete drug history every 12 to 18 months
3. Encouraging the elderly patient to coordinate their care with all of their providers
4. Evaluating for duplications in drug therapy and discontinuing any duplications - CORRECT ANSWERS
4. Evaluating for duplications in drug therapy and discontinuing any duplications
Robert is a 72-year-old patient who has hypertension and angina. He is at risk for common medication
practices seen in the elderly including:
1. Use of another person's medications
2. Hoarding medications
3. Changing his medication regimen without telling his provider
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. All of the above
To improve positive outcomes when prescribing for the elderly the nurse practitioner should:
1. Assess cognitive functioning in the elder
2. Encourage the patient to take a weekly "drug holiday" to keep drug costs down
3. Encourage the patient to cut drugs in half with a knife to lower costs
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Assess cognitive functioning in the elder
When an elderly diabetic patient is constipated the best treatment options include:
, 1. Mineral oil
2. Bulk-forming laxatives such as psyllium
3. Stimulant laxatives such as senna
4. Stool softeners such as docusate - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. Stool softeners such as docusate
Delta is an 88-year-old patient who has mild low-back pain. What guidelines should be followed when
prescribing pain management for Delta?
1. Keep the dose of oxycodone low to prevent development of tolerance.
2. Acetaminophen is the first-line drug of choice.
3. Avoid prescribing NSAIDs.
4. Add in a short-acting benzodiazepine for a synergistic effect on pain. - CORRECT ANSWERS
2. Acetaminophen is the first-line drug of choice.
Robert is complaining of poor sleep. Medications that may contribute to sleep problems in the elderly
include:
1. Diuretics
2. Trazodone
3. Clonazepam
4. Levodopa - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Diuretics
The GFRs for a 91-year-old woman who weighs 93 pounds and is 5'1" with a serum creatinine of 1.1, and
for a 202-pound, 25-year-old male who is 5'9" with the same serum creatinine according to the
Cockcroft Gault formula are:
1. 25ml/ min and 133 mL/min respectively
2. 25 mL/min and 103 mL/min respectively
3. 22 ml/min and 133 mL/min respectively
4. 22 ml/min and 103 mL/min respectively - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. 25 mL/min and 103 mL/min
respectively
