Geriatric Care Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Geriatric Care flashcards as text
An elderly patient is on multiple medications. Which term describes the use of five or more medications simultaneously, common in older adults?
Answer: Polypharmacy
Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent use of five or more medications and increases the risk of adverse drug reactions in elderly patients.
Which age-related change most significantly slows drug elimination in older adults?
Answer: Reduced renal function
Reduced renal function (decreased GFR) is the primary reason drugs are eliminated more slowly in elderly patients, raising toxicity risk.
An 82-year-old resident is prescribed a benzodiazepine for sleep. What is the priority nursing concern?
Answer: Increased fall risk
Benzodiazepines cause sedation and impaired balance in elderly patients, significantly increasing fall and fracture risk.
When administering medications to an older adult with dysphagia, which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Consult the pharmacist for liquid alternatives or crushable medications
The pharmacist should be consulted to identify safe alternatives, as not all medications are safe to crush or dissolve.
A 78-year-old patient shows confusion, urinary retention, and dry mouth after a new medication is started. These signs are consistent with which drug effect?
Answer: Anticholinergic toxicity
Anticholinergic toxicity presents with confusion, urinary retention, dry mouth, and constipation, and is especially dangerous in elderly patients.
Which laboratory value is most important to monitor in an elderly patient receiving digoxin therapy?
Answer: Serum potassium
Hypokalemia potentiates digoxin toxicity; monitoring serum potassium is essential in elderly patients on digoxin.
An LVN is reviewing medications for an 80-year-old patient. Which drug is on the Beers Criteria as potentially inappropriate for older adults?
Answer: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Diphenhydramine is listed on the Beers Criteria because its strong anticholinergic effects increase confusion and fall risk in elderly patients.