Question

One of the greatest challenges for the nurse caring for older adults is ensuring safe medication use. One way to reduce the risks associated with medication usage is to:

A. Periodically review the patient's list of medications.
B. Inform the patient that polypharmacy is to be avoided at all costs.
C. Be aware that medication is absorbed the same way regardless of patient age.
D. Focus only on prescribed medications.

Answer 1

To reduce medication risks in older adults, nurses should periodically review the patient's medications. This ensures that prescriptions are still appropriate and safe given the age-related changes in drug absorption and interactions, in line with FDA regulations on medication safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the greatest challenges for the nurse caring for older adults is ensuring safe medication use. To reduce the risks associated with medication usage, the correct approach would be A. Periodically review the patient's list of medications. This practice is essential to manage and minimize the risks of polypharmacy, ensure the efficacy of the medication regimen, and adjust for any changes in the patient's health status.

Medication review allows the healthcare provider to assess whether a prescription continues to be appropriate for the patient's condition. Special attention must be paid to potential drug interactions and the differing pharmacokinetics in the elderly population. For instance, the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of drugs can vary due to age-related changes, which can affect drug efficacy and safety.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a critical role by regulating the safety and efficacy of medicines. Long-term safety and the effect of new drugs on specific patient subgroups must be carefully monitored by companies, aligning with robust pharmacovigilance systems.