The nurse provides care for elders in an assisted living facility. What does the nurse assess as a primary contributing factor for medication complications in the elderly?
1. The elderly often abuse alcohol.
2. The elderly are frequently dehydrated.
3. The elderly are frequently constipated.
4. The elderly have decreased stomach acid.
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: Fluid deficit is a critical factor in the older adult that can contribute to medication complications. Decreased stomach acid is not a critical factor with medication complications in the elderly. Frequent constipation is not a critical factor with medication complications in the elderly. Alcohol abuse could be a factor in medication complications with the elderly, but is not as critical as fluid volume deficit.
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In an assessment of a patient who has been receiving IV fluids for the last 6 hours, the nurse finds that the pulse is now bounding, the blood pressure is more than 15 mm Hg higher than the last reading, and there is pedal edema
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