Gerontological Nurse Test Falls Prevention and Safety in the Elderly 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is used in gerontological nursing to assess:
- Cognitive function and reaction time
- Mobility, balance, and fall risk (Correct answer)
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Upper extremity strength
Correct answer: Mobility, balance, and fall risk
The TUG test measures the time for a patient to rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, walk back, and sit down, providing a quick functional assessment of mobility and fall risk.
Question 2: After a patient fall in a hospital, which nursing action takes the highest priority?
- Complete the incident report
- Notify the patient's family immediately
- Assess the patient for injuries (Correct answer)
- Reposition the patient to bed
Correct answer: Assess the patient for injuries
The immediate priority after any fall is assessing the patient for injuries, including head injury, fractures, and bleeding, before moving them or completing administrative tasks.
Question 3: Which footwear recommendation is most appropriate for fall prevention in older adults?
- Loose-fitting slippers for comfort during ambulation
- Walking barefoot to improve proprioceptive feedback
- Well-fitting, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles (Correct answer)
- High-top shoes to prevent ankle sprains
Correct answer: Well-fitting, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles
Well-fitted shoes with low heels and non-slip soles provide optimal stability, traction, and foot support to reduce slip-and-fall risk in older adults.
Question 4: A patient using a standard walker for ambulation is at increased fall risk if they:
- Hold the walker with both hands at all times
- Lift and advance the walker before stepping
- Use the walker as a support when rising from a chair (Correct answer)
- Wear non-slip footwear while ambulating
Correct answer: Use the walker as a support when rising from a chair
Using a walker as a support to push up from a seated position is dangerous because walkers can tip or roll forward, causing the patient to fall; chairs with armrests should be used for rising.
Question 5: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STEADI initiative is a clinical tool designed to:
- Track fall-related hospitalizations at the national level
- Help healthcare providers identify and address fall risk in older adult patients (Correct answer)
- Certify nursing homes on fall prevention standards
- Train physical therapists in geriatric rehabilitation
Correct answer: Help healthcare providers identify and address fall risk in older adult patients
The CDC's STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) toolkit provides healthcare providers with algorithms, risk screening tools, and intervention strategies for fall prevention.
Question 6: Which vitamin deficiency is strongly associated with increased fall risk in older adults due to its role in muscle strength and neuromuscular function?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin A
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with proximal muscle weakness, impaired balance, and increased fall risk; supplementation in deficient older adults is an evidence-based fall prevention strategy.
