Week 1 Age Matters Flashcards
Pediatric patients have _____ body systems
Dynamic
What are the four main systems that are different in children compared to adults?
- Liver function
- BSA and integument
- Renal function
- GI development
Why are tight margins of safety required for pediatric patients?
- Errors can be disastrous
- there are extreme variances between each individual patient
For pediatric patients, Drug doses are ___
Weight-based, USE kg!
Why are pediatric patients not given antibiotics if they have a viral illness?
Increased risk of drug resistance development due to the child developing immune system
Why is it vital to monitor infants and young children closely during and after drug administration?
There is an increased risk for toxicity due to medications having prolonged t1/2 and decreased excretion
As the body ages, how is absorption affected?
-Decreased gastric acid, motility, blood flow, and GI surface area
As the body ages, how is distribution affected?
- Decreased lean muscle
- Less body water = higher drug concentrations
- increased fat = increased lipid-soluble drug storage
- Decreased protein = more free drug = increased drug delivery and action and more interactions
How does aging affect the metabolism of drugs?
Decreased liver function = increased 1/2 life leading to increased drug accumulation
How does aging affect elimination?
Decreased renal blood flow=decreased excretion
what is the most predictable change in geriatric pharmacokinetics?
Age-related renal clearance decline.
What are the major nursing actions for geriatric medications?
- Review all drugs (polypharmacy = toxicity)
- Decreased ability to afford medication
- Asses cognitive ability before, during, and after medication
What are you assessing specifically r/t geriatric cognitive ability and medications?
- Can they remember to and have the ability to take the right medication at the right time?
- Is the medication having a negative effect and can the patient tell you if it is?
