A paramedic has opted to deliver a smaller dose of pain medication to a geriatric patient with a probable hip fracture. How can the paramedic BEST defend the decision to start out conservatively with pain medication administration to the general geriatric patient when operating on standing orders?
o Research indicates older patients will be able to tolerate pain better than younger patients will.
o Hip fracture patients have a tendency to experience hypovolemia shock quicker than those with other injuries.
o Older patients frequently experience profound hypotensive complications following pain medication.
o Geriatric patients have a higher fat-to-muscle ratio which negatively affects drug metabolism.