Chapter 55. Geriatric Patients
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. To improve positive outcomes when prescribing for the elderly the nurse practitioner should:
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. To improve positive outcomes when prescribing for the elderly the nurse practitioner should:
