NURS 5461 Final Exam Questions With
Correct Answers Latest Update 2026 |
Exam Prep
1. With age, which of the following changes occurs in
body composition that affects drug distribution?
• A) Decreased body fat and increased lean body mass
• B) Increased body fat and decreased lean body mass
• C) Increased total body water and decreased body
fat
• D) Decreased body fat and decreased lean body
mass
Answer: B) Increased body fat and decreased lean
body mass
Rationale: With aging, there is increased body fat
and decreased lean body mass. This alters drug
distribution so that fat-soluble drugs are distributed
more widely and water-soluble drugs less widely .
2. How does aging affect the volume of distribution for
water-soluble drugs?
, • A) The volume of distribution increases significantly
• B) The volume of distribution remains unchanged
• C) The volume of distribution is less in the elderly
• D) The volume of distribution becomes
unpredictable
Answer: C) The volume of distribution is less in the
elderly
Rationale: The volume of distribution for water-
soluble drugs is less in the elderly due to decreased
total body water and lean body mass .
3. What is polypharmacy in the elderly population?
• A) The use of one medication for multiple conditions
• B) The concurrent use of multiple medications
• C) The use of only generic medications
• D) The practice of prescribing herbal supplements
Answer: B) The concurrent use of multiple
medications
Rationale: Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent
use of multiple medications and is one of the most
significant health challenges facing older adults
today. Elderly patients take an average of two to
nine medicines per day .
,4. Which of the following is a common consequence of
polypharmacy in older adults?
• A) Improved medication adherence
• B) Decreased risk of falls
• C) Drug interactions and adverse drug reactions
• D) Enhanced cognitive function
Answer: C) Drug interactions and adverse drug
reactions
Rationale: Polypharmacy frequently results in drug
therapy problems related to interactions, drug
toxicity, falls with injury, delirium, and
nonadherence .
5. Which pharmacokinetic phase is LEAST affected by
aging?
• A) Absorption
• B) Distribution
• C) Metabolism
• D) Excretion
Answer: A) Absorption
Rationale: While all aspects of pharmacokinetics are
affected by aging, the change in absorption is often
, not a major clinical problem in the elderly.
Distribution, metabolism, and excretion undergo
more significant age-related changes .
6. Age-related decline in renal function affects which
aspect of pharmacokinetics?
• A) Drug absorption
• B) Drug distribution
• C) Drug metabolism
• D) Drug excretion
Answer: D) Drug excretion
Rationale: With aging, there is a notable decline in
kidney function, including progressive decreases in
glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow.
This significantly affects drug excretion, requiring
dose adjustments for renally eliminated medications
in older adults .
7. Which assessment tool is most appropriate for
evaluating medication appropriateness in older adults?
• A) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
• B) Beers Criteria
• C) Katz Index
Correct Answers Latest Update 2026 |
Exam Prep
1. With age, which of the following changes occurs in
body composition that affects drug distribution?
• A) Decreased body fat and increased lean body mass
• B) Increased body fat and decreased lean body mass
• C) Increased total body water and decreased body
fat
• D) Decreased body fat and decreased lean body
mass
Answer: B) Increased body fat and decreased lean
body mass
Rationale: With aging, there is increased body fat
and decreased lean body mass. This alters drug
distribution so that fat-soluble drugs are distributed
more widely and water-soluble drugs less widely .
2. How does aging affect the volume of distribution for
water-soluble drugs?
, • A) The volume of distribution increases significantly
• B) The volume of distribution remains unchanged
• C) The volume of distribution is less in the elderly
• D) The volume of distribution becomes
unpredictable
Answer: C) The volume of distribution is less in the
elderly
Rationale: The volume of distribution for water-
soluble drugs is less in the elderly due to decreased
total body water and lean body mass .
3. What is polypharmacy in the elderly population?
• A) The use of one medication for multiple conditions
• B) The concurrent use of multiple medications
• C) The use of only generic medications
• D) The practice of prescribing herbal supplements
Answer: B) The concurrent use of multiple
medications
Rationale: Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent
use of multiple medications and is one of the most
significant health challenges facing older adults
today. Elderly patients take an average of two to
nine medicines per day .
,4. Which of the following is a common consequence of
polypharmacy in older adults?
• A) Improved medication adherence
• B) Decreased risk of falls
• C) Drug interactions and adverse drug reactions
• D) Enhanced cognitive function
Answer: C) Drug interactions and adverse drug
reactions
Rationale: Polypharmacy frequently results in drug
therapy problems related to interactions, drug
toxicity, falls with injury, delirium, and
nonadherence .
5. Which pharmacokinetic phase is LEAST affected by
aging?
• A) Absorption
• B) Distribution
• C) Metabolism
• D) Excretion
Answer: A) Absorption
Rationale: While all aspects of pharmacokinetics are
affected by aging, the change in absorption is often
, not a major clinical problem in the elderly.
Distribution, metabolism, and excretion undergo
more significant age-related changes .
6. Age-related decline in renal function affects which
aspect of pharmacokinetics?
• A) Drug absorption
• B) Drug distribution
• C) Drug metabolism
• D) Drug excretion
Answer: D) Drug excretion
Rationale: With aging, there is a notable decline in
kidney function, including progressive decreases in
glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow.
This significantly affects drug excretion, requiring
dose adjustments for renally eliminated medications
in older adults .
7. Which assessment tool is most appropriate for
evaluating medication appropriateness in older adults?
• A) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
• B) Beers Criteria
• C) Katz Index
