Deck 3: Drug Action Across the Life Span

Question 1

Which factor(s) in a patient would influence GI absorption of medications? (Select all that apply.)

A)Stomach pH
B)Level of consciousness
C)Fever
D)Blood flow to gastric mucosa
E)Weight
F)Body surface area

Answer 1

Stomach pH
Blood flow to gastric mucosa

Question 2

Which patient would the nurse identify as having the lowest rate of absorption of enteral medications?

A)A 5-year-old boy
B)An 18-year-old woman
C)A 55-year-old man
D)An 85-year-old woman

Answer 2

A 5-year-old boy

Question 3

After giving instructions to an expectant mother about taking medications during pregnancy, which patient statement indicates the need for further teaching?

A)"I will not take herbal medicines during pregnancy."
B)"For morning sickness, I will try crackers instead of taking a drug."
C)"If I get a cold, I will avoid taking nonprescription medications until I check with my physician."
D)"I will limit my alcohol intake to only one glass of wine weekly."

Answer 3

"I will limit my alcohol intake to only one glass of wine weekly."

Question 4

For which reason(s) is/are elderly patients at increased risk for drug interactions and toxicity? (Select all that apply.)

A)They have a higher incidence of malnourishment.
B)Their renal function is enhanced.
C)They have increased use of multiple medications.
D)Hepatic function is reduced.
E)There are often issues with swallowing.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a 4 month old child who is on a water soluble medication for seizures.The child's mother voices concern that the dosage seems "too much" for the child's age and would like the dosage verified.What actions will the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)

A)Verify dosage requirements in the Physicians' Desk Reference( PDR) in mg/kg.
B)Compare the water composition requirements of adults and children.
C)Evaluate lean body mass and total fat content in adults and infants.
D)Chart "refused per mother" on the MAR and do not administer.
E)Compare transportation in the circulation of plasma bound proteins between adults and children.

Question 6

A resident in a long term care facility reports difficulty swallowing enteric coated aspirin and asks the nurse to crush it prior to administration.The most appropriate action for the nurse to take is to:

A)crush the tablet and mix with applesauce.
B)encourage the resident to swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.
C)hold the medication and notify the physician.
D)substitute a regular aspirin for the enteric coated tablet.

Question 7

Which classification of medications commonly causes allergic reactions in children?

A)Antacids
B)Analgesics
C)Antibiotics
D)Anticonvulsants

Question 8

One of the prescribed medications for a 36 week gestational age baby girl is a topical water soluble medication to be applied to the perineum daily to treat an inflammatory rash.What considerations is the nurse aware of before medication administration? (Select all that apply.)

A)Age of the client
B)Location of topical application
C)Increased intestinal transit rate
D)Condition of the skin
E)Gastric pH of 8

Question 9

The nurse is teaching an elderly patient with difficulty swallowing about his medications.Which explanation by the nurse is most helpful?

A)"Enteric coated tablets can be crushed and taken with applesauce."
B)"Tablets that are scored can be broken in half."
C)"Medications labeled 'SR' can be crushed."
D)"Avoid taking medications in liquid form."

Question 10

Which drugs cause birth defects?

A)Teratogens
B)Carcinogens
C)Metabolites
D)Placebos

Question 11

Which patient(s) require(s) special considerations for medication administration? (Select all that apply.)

A)A 29-year-old pregnant woman
B)A 2-month-old baby
C)An 18-year-old college student
D)A 45-year-old farmer
E)An 82-year-old retired nurse

Question 12

What will the nurse expect the health care provider's order to be when starting an older adult patient on thyroid hormone replacement therapy?

A)Administering a loading dose of the drug
B)Directions on how to taper the drug
C)A dosage that is one third to one half of the regular dosage
D)A dosage that is double the regular dosage

Question 13

Which intervention would be considered to reduce accumulation of a drug in a patient who has decreased liver function?

A)Decreasing the time interval between dosages
B)Reducing the dosage
C)Administering the medication intravenously
D)Changing the drug to one that has a longer half life

Question 14

The nurse is administering an antibiotic intravenously.Which blood level determines the lowest amount of medication present in the patient?

A)Peak
B)Serum
C)Therapeutic
D)Trough

Question 15

Which age-related change would affect transdermal drug absorption in geriatric patients the most?

A)Difficulty swallowing
B)Diminished kidney function
C)Changes in pigmentation
D)Altered circulatory status

Question 16

What time will the trough blood level need to be drawn if the nurse administers the intravenous medication dose at 9:00 AM?

A)6:30 AM
B)8:30 AM
C)9:30 AM
D)11:30 AM

Question 17

Which life threatening illness may occur as a result of aspirin (salicylate) administration during viral illness to patients younger than 20 years of age?

A)Anaphylactic shock
B)Reye's syndrome
C)Chickenpox
D)Influenza A

Question 18

When is the ideal time for a nursing mother to take her own medications?

A)Before the infant latches on to begin to breastfeed
B)As soon as the mother wakes up in the morning
C)Right before the mother goes to sleep at night
D)As soon as the infant finishes breastfeeding

Question 19

What is the definition of cumulative effect of a drug?

A)Drug toxicity related to overmedication
B)Drug buildup related to decreased metabolism
C)The inability to control the ingestion of drugs
D)The need for higher dosage to produce the same effect as previous lower dosages

Question 20

Which patient, when compared with the general population, would require a larger dose or more frequent administration of a drug to attain a therapeutic response?

A)A 29 year old who has been diagnosed with kidney failure
B)A 35 year old obese male who is being evaluated for an exercise program
C)A 52 year old diagnosed with hypothyroidism and decreased metabolic rate
D)A 72 year old with decreased circulatory status

Question 21

When receiving a report on a new admission from the emergency room, the nurse learns that the patient is newly diagnosed with renal failure.Which medication(s) in the patient's medication history will require dosage adjustment by the physician? (Select all that apply.)

A)Lithium
B)Tobramycin
C)Atenolol
D)Quinidine
E)Ampicillin
F) None of above

Question 22

Prenatal education is being provided by the nurse at a maternal family child clinic.What information should be relayed? (Select all that apply.)

A)Herbal medicines are considered safe.
B)Limit tobacco consumption to less than two cigarettes per day.
C)Encourage a folic acid supplement.
D)One alcoholic beverage per day is acceptable in the last trimester.
E)Encourage nonpharmacologic treatments for symptoms such as nausea.