ATI Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
Exam Questions & Correctly Answered
metabolism and older adults - ANSWER-decreased hepatic metabolism r/t blood flow,
less liver mass, and decreased activity of hepatic enzymes. This leads to an increased
half life of drugs.
excretion and older adults - ANSWER-there is a reduction in renal excretion, leads to
decreased ability to conserve sodium and concentrate urine
promoting adherence in older adults - ANSWER-encourage use of pill boxes, family
support, written schedule, keep in visible place where routine is consistent, journaling,
putting drugs into simple terms, literacy problems that may need to be addressed
An older adult patient will often experience a reduction in the stomach's ability to
produce gastric acid. The nurse knows that this change:
A. causes delayed gastric emptying.
B. results in an increase in gastric acidity.
C. causes decreased intestinal absorption of medications.
D. may alter absorption of drugs that require acidity to dissolve. - ANSWER-D. may alter
absorption of drugs that require acidity to dissolve.
Gastric acidity is reduced in the elderly and may alter the absorption of drugs that
require high acidity to dissolve.
While assessing the medications taken by an elderly woman, you determine that she is
experiencing polypharmacy. This indicates that she:
A. takes only prescription medications for her illnesses.
B. takes medications for a single illness several times a day.
C. takes multiple medications for several different illnesses.
D. risks problems only if she also takes over-the-counter medications. - ANSWER-C.
takes multiple medications for several different illnesses.
Polypharmacy is defined as treatment with multiple drugs and is often a factor in drug
therapy in the elderly
When considering the effect of renal function on drug excretion, the nurse recalls that
adult levels of renal function are achieved by what age?
A. 1 month of age
, B. 3 months of age
C. 6 months of age
D. 12 months of age - ANSWER-D. 12 months of age
Adult levels of renal function are achieved by 1 year of age.
When considering drug dosages for the older adult, the nurse recognizes that which is
an age-related change that may affect pharmacokinetics?
A. Decreased body fat
B. Decreased GI motility
C. Increased hepatic blood flow
D. Increased serum albumin - ANSWER-B. Decreased GI motility
Age-related changes include decreased GI motility, increased body fat, decreased
hepatic blood flow, and decreased serum albumin.
When considering the age-related changes in the kidney of the older adult, the nurse
recalls that which drug response is possible?
A. Drug half-life is lengthened.
B. Drug half-life is shortened.
C. Drug excretion is accelerated.
D. Drug effect is diminished. - ANSWER-A. Drug half-life is lengthened.
Decreased renal excretion causes drug accumulation and is the most important cause
of adverse drug reactions in the elderly.
When evaluating renal function in the elderly, the nurse knows that the best indicator of
renal function is:
A. blood urea nitrogen (BUN).
B. serum creatinine.
C. creatinine clearance.
D. uric acid. - ANSWER-C. creatinine clearance.
Creatinine clearance is the proper indicator of renal function in an elderly person; the
serum creatinine level does not reflect kidney function in the elderly because the source
of creatinine, lean muscle mass, is reduced in parallel with the decline of kidney
function. Therefore, the creatinine level may appear to be "normal" even when renal
function is reduced.
When considering the physiologic changes that affect pharmacokinetics in the elderly,
the nurse recognizes that which factors occur? Select all that apply.
A. Decreased gastric pH
B. Increased gastric pH
Exam Questions & Correctly Answered
metabolism and older adults - ANSWER-decreased hepatic metabolism r/t blood flow,
less liver mass, and decreased activity of hepatic enzymes. This leads to an increased
half life of drugs.
excretion and older adults - ANSWER-there is a reduction in renal excretion, leads to
decreased ability to conserve sodium and concentrate urine
promoting adherence in older adults - ANSWER-encourage use of pill boxes, family
support, written schedule, keep in visible place where routine is consistent, journaling,
putting drugs into simple terms, literacy problems that may need to be addressed
An older adult patient will often experience a reduction in the stomach's ability to
produce gastric acid. The nurse knows that this change:
A. causes delayed gastric emptying.
B. results in an increase in gastric acidity.
C. causes decreased intestinal absorption of medications.
D. may alter absorption of drugs that require acidity to dissolve. - ANSWER-D. may alter
absorption of drugs that require acidity to dissolve.
Gastric acidity is reduced in the elderly and may alter the absorption of drugs that
require high acidity to dissolve.
While assessing the medications taken by an elderly woman, you determine that she is
experiencing polypharmacy. This indicates that she:
A. takes only prescription medications for her illnesses.
B. takes medications for a single illness several times a day.
C. takes multiple medications for several different illnesses.
D. risks problems only if she also takes over-the-counter medications. - ANSWER-C.
takes multiple medications for several different illnesses.
Polypharmacy is defined as treatment with multiple drugs and is often a factor in drug
therapy in the elderly
When considering the effect of renal function on drug excretion, the nurse recalls that
adult levels of renal function are achieved by what age?
A. 1 month of age
, B. 3 months of age
C. 6 months of age
D. 12 months of age - ANSWER-D. 12 months of age
Adult levels of renal function are achieved by 1 year of age.
When considering drug dosages for the older adult, the nurse recognizes that which is
an age-related change that may affect pharmacokinetics?
A. Decreased body fat
B. Decreased GI motility
C. Increased hepatic blood flow
D. Increased serum albumin - ANSWER-B. Decreased GI motility
Age-related changes include decreased GI motility, increased body fat, decreased
hepatic blood flow, and decreased serum albumin.
When considering the age-related changes in the kidney of the older adult, the nurse
recalls that which drug response is possible?
A. Drug half-life is lengthened.
B. Drug half-life is shortened.
C. Drug excretion is accelerated.
D. Drug effect is diminished. - ANSWER-A. Drug half-life is lengthened.
Decreased renal excretion causes drug accumulation and is the most important cause
of adverse drug reactions in the elderly.
When evaluating renal function in the elderly, the nurse knows that the best indicator of
renal function is:
A. blood urea nitrogen (BUN).
B. serum creatinine.
C. creatinine clearance.
D. uric acid. - ANSWER-C. creatinine clearance.
Creatinine clearance is the proper indicator of renal function in an elderly person; the
serum creatinine level does not reflect kidney function in the elderly because the source
of creatinine, lean muscle mass, is reduced in parallel with the decline of kidney
function. Therefore, the creatinine level may appear to be "normal" even when renal
function is reduced.
When considering the physiologic changes that affect pharmacokinetics in the elderly,
the nurse recognizes that which factors occur? Select all that apply.
A. Decreased gastric pH
B. Increased gastric pH
