A nurse is teaching a class about drugs. To evaluate the group's ...

[PhilipSeeMore]

A nurse is teaching a class about drugs. To evaluate the group's understanding, the nurse asks, What age group would be more at risk for sensitivity to central nervous system drugs? The class would be correct to answer
 
  a. the elderly.
  b. infants.
  c. children.
  d. adolescents.

Question 2

A nurse suspects that a patient is exhibiting signs and symptoms of physical dependence on a central nervous system drug. The nurse should plan to implement which of the following interventions?
 
  a. Increase the drug dose to prevent withdrawal per the prescriber's orders.
  b. Monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of tolerance.
  c. Taper the medication to prevent withdrawal as prescribed.
  d. Augment the central nervous system drug with another, less potent central nervous system drug as prescribed.

[AngeliqueG]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The blood-brain barrier is not fully developed at birth. Therefore infants are much more sensitive to central nervous system drugs than are children and older adults.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Physical dependence would require the dose to be decreased and eventually tapered off to prevent an abstinence syndrome, which is specific to physical withdrawal.
A dose increase would be contraindicated, because it may make the patient more dependent and is consistent with drug tolerance.
There is no indication that the patient should be monitored for signs and symptoms of tolerance, which is different from physical dependence.
The central nervous system drug would not be augmented with another drug, because this indicates an addition to the drug regimen, not a replacement.

[PhilipSeeMore]

Thank you!

[AngeliqueG]

Always glad to help...