A nurse is planning care for a client who has angina and a new prescription for nitroglycerin ointment.
Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

Choice A rationale:

Asking for a home phone number is not an effective method for identifying a patient. Phone numbers can be easily forgotten or mixed up, especially in a hospital setting where a patient may be under stress or experiencing health issues.

Choice B rationale:

Room numbers can change if the patient is moved, and other patients may have previously occupied the same room. Therefore, room numbers are not reliable identifiers.

Choice C rationale:

Asking the patient to confirm their own name is one of the most direct and reliable ways to verify their identity. This method respects patient autonomy and privacy while ensuring accurate identification.

Choice D rationale:

Age alone is not a reliable identifier because it does not distinguish between different patients of the same age.

Choice A rationale:

Renal excretion time slows for medication. As people age, kidney function gradually decreases, which slows the excretion of medications. This can lead to increased levels of the drug in the body, which can increase the risk of side effects.

Choice B rationale:

Hepatic enzymes do not process medications more rapidly in older adults. In fact, liver function also decreases with age, which can slow the metabolism of medications.

Choice C rationale:

Brain receptors do not become less sensitive to medications in older adults. The sensitivity of brain receptors to medications can vary widely and is not necessarily related to age.

Choice D rationale:

Gastric emptying rate does not increase with age. On the contrary, it often slows down, which can affect the absorption of some medications.