C HAPTER 03: L IFESPAN C ONSIDERATIONS
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is administering drugs to neonates and will consider which
factor may contribute the most to drug toxicit y?
a. The lungs are immature.
b. The kidneys are small.
c. The liver is not full y developed.
d. Excretion of the drug occurs quickl y.
ANS: C
A neonate’s liver is not full y developed and cannot detoxify many
drugs. The other options are incorrect. The lungs and kidneys do not
play major roles in drug metabolism. Renal excretion is slow, not fast,
because of organ immaturit y, but this is not the factor that contributes
the most to drug toxicit y.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning dosage has been double-checked
and updated
MSC: NC LEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. An 83-year-old woman has been given a thiazide diuretic to treat heart
failure. She and her caregiver should be told to watch for which problems?
a. Constipation and anorexia
b. Fatigue, leg cramps, and dehydration
c. Daytime sedation and lethargy
, d. Edema, nausea, and blurred vision
ANS: B
Electrol yte imbalance, leg cramps, fatigue, and dehydration are
common complications when thiazide diuretics are given to elderl y
patients. The other opt ions do not describe complications that occur
when these drugs are given to the elderl y.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
3. An elderl y patient with a new diagnosis of hypertension will be receiving
a new prescription for an antihypertensive drug. The nurse expects which
type of dosing to occur with this drug therapy?
a. Drug therapy will be based on the patient ’s weight.
b. Drug therapy will be based on the patient ’s age.
c. The patient will receive the maximum dose that is expected to
reduce the blood pressure.
d. The patient will receive the lowest possible dose at first, and then
the dose will be increased as needed.
ANS: D
As a general rul e, dosing for elderl y patients should follow the
admonition, “Start low, and go slow, ” which means to start with the
lowest possible dose (often less than an average adult dose) and
increase the dose slowl y, if needed, based on patient response. The
other responses are incorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is administering drugs to neonates and will consider which
factor may contribute the most to drug toxicit y?
a. The lungs are immature.
b. The kidneys are small.
c. The liver is not full y developed.
d. Excretion of the drug occurs quickl y.
ANS: C
A neonate’s liver is not full y developed and cannot detoxify many
drugs. The other options are incorrect. The lungs and kidneys do not
play major roles in drug metabolism. Renal excretion is slow, not fast,
because of organ immaturit y, but this is not the factor that contributes
the most to drug toxicit y.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning dosage has been double-checked
and updated
MSC: NC LEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. An 83-year-old woman has been given a thiazide diuretic to treat heart
failure. She and her caregiver should be told to watch for which problems?
a. Constipation and anorexia
b. Fatigue, leg cramps, and dehydration
c. Daytime sedation and lethargy
, d. Edema, nausea, and blurred vision
ANS: B
Electrol yte imbalance, leg cramps, fatigue, and dehydration are
common complications when thiazide diuretics are given to elderl y
patients. The other opt ions do not describe complications that occur
when these drugs are given to the elderl y.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
3. An elderl y patient with a new diagnosis of hypertension will be receiving
a new prescription for an antihypertensive drug. The nurse expects which
type of dosing to occur with this drug therapy?
a. Drug therapy will be based on the patient ’s weight.
b. Drug therapy will be based on the patient ’s age.
c. The patient will receive the maximum dose that is expected to
reduce the blood pressure.
d. The patient will receive the lowest possible dose at first, and then
the dose will be increased as needed.
ANS: D
As a general rul e, dosing for elderl y patients should follow the
admonition, “Start low, and go slow, ” which means to start with the
lowest possible dose (often less than an average adult dose) and
increase the dose slowl y, if needed, based on patient response. The
other responses are incorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
