A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a child through an enteral tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take after administering the medication?

The nurse should administer scheduled pain medications to a client who is near death. This is an important nursing intervention to ensure that the client is comfortable and free from pain.

b) Providing oral care every 6 hours is important, but it may not be the highest priority for a client who is near death.

c) Administering liquids using a syringe may not be necessary or appropriate for a client who is near death.

d) Whispering when talking to family members is not necessary. The nurse should communicate openly and honestly with the family members.

As individuals age, there is a natural decline in kidney function. This can result in a reduced ability to filter and excrete medications and their metabolites from the body. The decreased kidney function can lead to a longer half-life of medications, increased drug accumulation, and an increased risk of adverse drug reactions. It is important for the nurse to adjust medication dosages and frequencies based on the individual's renal function to prevent drug toxicity.

Increased liver function: Aging is associated with a gradual decline in liver function. While there may be some individual variations, in general, liver function decreases rather than increases with age. However, changes in liver function can affect the metabolism and elimination of medications. Some medications may require dosage adjustments based on liver function, but it is not a common physiological change in older adults.

Increased metabolism: Aging is generally associated with a decrease in metabolism rather than an increase. The metabolic rate tends to slow down with age, which can affect the pharmacokinetics of medications. Slower metabolism can result in medications taking longer to be metabolized and cleared from the body, potentially leading to prolonged drug effects.

Decreased pulmonary function: While it is true that lung function decreases with age, the impact on medication administration is not as significant compared to kidney function. Medications are usually administered through non-pulmonary routes (e.g., oral, intravenous, transdermal), and decreased pulmonary function primarily affects the absorption of inhaled medications. However, certain respiratory conditions or compromised lung function may influence medication choices or require adjusted dosing.