Nurses working with older adult patients must remember which of the following factors about their kidney function and administration of their medications? (Select all that apply.)

Question

1. Older adult patients are all alike with regard to kidney function and medications.
2. Drugs excreted by the kidney must be assessed individually in older adults.
3. Longer dosage intervals and lower doses are generally appropriate for older adults with kidney damage.
4. With older adults, creatinine clearance values help measure kidney function.

Answer 1

2, 3
The important factors to remember when caring for older adult patients taking drugs that will be excreted from the kidney are to monitor these patients individually, follow creatinine clearance as prescribed by the health-care provider, and expect that lower doses or longer intervals between doses may be ordered for patients with kidney damage.