Polypharmacy is:
a. the use of unprescribed medication for recreational use.
b. the prescription, use, or administration of more medications than are needed.
c. very rare in older adults.
d. rarely a problem as long as the medications are taken together.
B
Polypharmacy, the prescription, use, or administration of more medications than are indicated clinically, is a common problem of older adults. The combined use of multiple drugs causes se-rious problematic effects.
You might also like to view...
A patient has been started on tube feeding by nasogastric tube. When his wife visits, she says, "I need to tell you that my husband is lactose intolerant so that feeding will make him sick." What nursing response is indicated?
1. "Even though the tube feeding fluid looks like milk it is lactose-free." 2. "We did not know that. I will contact his physician immediately." 3. "Since he is being fed by tube, the fact that he is lactose intolerant is not an issue." 4. "We will watch to see if he has any symptoms of lactose intolerance."
A new mother reports that her newborn often spits up after feeding. Assessment reveals regurgitation. The nurse responds based on the understanding that this most likely is due to which of the following?
A) Placing the newborn prone after feeding B) Limited ability of digestive enzymes C) Underdeveloped pyloric sphincter D) Relaxed cardiac sphincter
The nurse is caring for an older client who has been getting more confused recently. What other characteristics might the family notice that alerts the nurse that the client may be at risk for wan-dering?
a. The client paces and cannot be redirected easily. b. The client sleeps 6 hours at night and takes a brief nap during the day. c. The client gets tired when cleaning the kitchen after cooking dinner. d. The client uses a space heater for supple-mental heat.
The client is receiving ferrous sulfate (Feosol) for the treatment of anemia. The nurse has taught the client about this drug and about anemia. The nurse evaluates that learning has occurred when the client makes which statement?
1. "My anemia was caused by blood loss from my ulcer, but there are other causes too." 2. "My anemia was caused by drinking too many carbonated beverages with caffeine." 3. "There are many causes for anemia; mine was caused by heart failure and fluid overload." 4. "I think my anemia occurred when I started that vegetarian diet."