A 75-year-old patient who lives alone will begin taking a narcotic analgesic for pain. To help ensure patient safety, the NP prescribing this medication should:
a. assess this patient's usual sleeping patterns.
b. ask the patient about problems with constipation.
c. obtain a baseline creatinine clearance test before the first dose.
d. perform a thorough evaluation of cognitive and motor abilities.
D
The body system most significantly affected by increased receptor sensitivity in elderly patients is the central nervous system, making this population sensitive to numerous drugs. It is important to evaluate motor and cognitive function before beginning drugs that affect the central nervous system to minimize the risk of falls. Assessment of sleeping patterns is important, but not in relation to patient safety. It is not necessary to evaluate stool patterns or renal function.
You might also like to view...
A diabetic comes to the clinic complaining of a vaginal discharge and being "sore" and having genital itiching. She is diagnosed with trichomoniasis. Because this patient is a diabetic she is at higher risk of also having what?
A) Dysuria B) Vulvitis C) Bartholin's cyst D) Candidiasis
Which statement from the parents of an 11-year-old child supports the need for parent education on the topic of physical discipline?
A) "Authority figures, such as parents, should be trusted and respected, not feared." B) "Hitting increases the probability that you are more likely to use aggression to handle conflicts." C) "Spanking is an effective method to let a child know that inappropriate behavior is not tolerated and that it has consequences." D) "Corporal punishment gives the message that violence is acceptable."
Most health promotion programs involve lifestyle behavioral changes. What action would indicate the employee is in the maintenance stage?
A) The employee is observed practicing the new behaviors. B) The employee is sharing the newly learned behavior with coworkers. C) The employee is hesitant and needs support, incentives, and sincere encouragement. D) The employee states new behavior requires a lot of effort and is afraid of relapsing.
A nurse is a part of a committee working on a project for implementing an electronic documentation system in the agency. The committee conducts a thorough needs assessment to ensure which of the following?
A) The project scope is appropriate. B) The system implementation is a success. C) The risks are clearly identified. D) The cost savings are realized.