CARE OF OLDER ADULTS STUDY GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH QUALIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS 100%
The nurse is managing an epidural catheter for a patient diagnosed with cancer. The patient has
developed a spinal headache. Which intervention should be completed at this time?
A) Increase the dosage of anesthetic.
B) Place in semi-Fowler position.
C) Continue to monitor the patient.
D) Initiate administration of prescribed fluids.
Answer D. If a headache develops, the patient should remain flat in bed and should be given large
amounts of fluids (provided the medical condition allows), and the health care provider should be
notified. It is not appropriate to continue to monitor the patient without notifying the health care
provider in this situation.
The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient following right hip surgery. When administering pain
medication to this patient, what is important for the nurse to remember?
A) Elderly patients have a faster metabolism than their younger counterparts.
B) Elderly patients have an increased risk for drug toxicity.
C) Elderly patients have a lower incidence of chronic illness.
D) Elderly patients infrequently use OTC medications.
Answer B. Elderly patients have a sensitivity to medications and an increased risk for drug toxicity. They
have slowed metabolism of medications, a higher incidence of chronic illness, and an increased use of
prescription and OTC medications.
A patient has a pancreatic tumor and history of alcoholism. The patient receives morphine 2 mg
subcutaneously every 3 to 4 hours for treatment of pain associated with the tumor. After 2 days of
receiving this dose every 4 hours, the patient tells the nurse that the medication is needed more
frequently to control the pain. What is the nurse's best response to this situation?
A) The patient is becoming addicted to the morphine, and the medication should be administered less
frequently than every 4 hours.
B) A tolerance to the morphine is developing, and the patient should receive the drug every 3 hours.
C) Administering the morphine every 3 hours will increase the patient's physical dependence on the
drug.
D) Physical dependence should be avoided at all costs, and the drug should continue to be administered
every 4 hours.
Answer B. Tolerance occurs when a person who has been taking opioids becomes less sensitive to their
analgesic properties (and usually side effects). Tolerance is characterized by the need for increasing
doses to maintain the same level of pain relief.
WITH QUALIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS 100%
The nurse is managing an epidural catheter for a patient diagnosed with cancer. The patient has
developed a spinal headache. Which intervention should be completed at this time?
A) Increase the dosage of anesthetic.
B) Place in semi-Fowler position.
C) Continue to monitor the patient.
D) Initiate administration of prescribed fluids.
Answer D. If a headache develops, the patient should remain flat in bed and should be given large
amounts of fluids (provided the medical condition allows), and the health care provider should be
notified. It is not appropriate to continue to monitor the patient without notifying the health care
provider in this situation.
The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient following right hip surgery. When administering pain
medication to this patient, what is important for the nurse to remember?
A) Elderly patients have a faster metabolism than their younger counterparts.
B) Elderly patients have an increased risk for drug toxicity.
C) Elderly patients have a lower incidence of chronic illness.
D) Elderly patients infrequently use OTC medications.
Answer B. Elderly patients have a sensitivity to medications and an increased risk for drug toxicity. They
have slowed metabolism of medications, a higher incidence of chronic illness, and an increased use of
prescription and OTC medications.
A patient has a pancreatic tumor and history of alcoholism. The patient receives morphine 2 mg
subcutaneously every 3 to 4 hours for treatment of pain associated with the tumor. After 2 days of
receiving this dose every 4 hours, the patient tells the nurse that the medication is needed more
frequently to control the pain. What is the nurse's best response to this situation?
A) The patient is becoming addicted to the morphine, and the medication should be administered less
frequently than every 4 hours.
B) A tolerance to the morphine is developing, and the patient should receive the drug every 3 hours.
C) Administering the morphine every 3 hours will increase the patient's physical dependence on the
drug.
D) Physical dependence should be avoided at all costs, and the drug should continue to be administered
every 4 hours.
Answer B. Tolerance occurs when a person who has been taking opioids becomes less sensitive to their
analgesic properties (and usually side effects). Tolerance is characterized by the need for increasing
doses to maintain the same level of pain relief.
