Gerontological Nursing - 2026 Fall Prevention & Frailty: Final
Exam (Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Intrinsic fall risk factors are those related to:
A. The environment, such as rugs
B. The person, such as weakness, gait problems, vision loss and cognitive impairment
C. Weather only
D. Footwear only
Correct Answer: B. The person, such as weakness, gait problems, vision loss and cognitive
impairment
Rationale: Extrinsic factors relate to the environment. Most falls involve both.
2. Depression increases fall risk through:
A. Psychomotor slowing, poor concentration and antidepressant side effects
B. Improved energy
C. Better sleep
D. Increased attention
Correct Answer: A. Psychomotor slowing, poor concentration and antidepressant side effects
Rationale: Both the illness and its treatment contribute. Monitoring is important after starting
medications.
3. The Five Times Sit-to-Stand test measures:
A. Number of steps in a minute
B. The time needed to stand up fully from a chair five times without using the arms
C. Standing balance on one foot
D. Arm strength
Correct Answer: B. The time needed to stand up fully from a chair five times without using the
arms
Rationale: Longer times indicate lower-limb weakness and higher fall risk. It complements the
30-second chair stand.
,4. Measuring orthostatic blood pressure correctly involves:
A. Measuring only while sitting
B. Measuring immediately on standing only
C. Measuring only once lying down
D. Measuring after lying for 5 minutes, then at 1 and 3 minutes after standing
Correct Answer: D. Measuring after lying for 5 minutes, then at 1 and 3 minutes after standing
Rationale: Delayed drops may be missed with a single reading. Symptoms during standing are
also documented.
5. Effective fall prevention exercise generally requires a dose of about:
A. 10 minutes once a month
B. One session only
C. At least 3 hours per week of progressive balance and strength training over months
D. 2 weeks of daily walking
Correct Answer: C. At least 3 hours per week of progressive balance and strength training
over months
Rationale: Benefits require sustained participation. Progression keeps the exercise challenging.
6. Exercise programs that most effectively prevent falls emphasize:
A. Walking alone
B. Stretching alone
C. Chair yoga only
D. Balance and functional training, often combined with strength training
Correct Answer: D. Balance and functional training, often combined with strength training
Rationale: Balance-challenging exercise has the strongest evidence. Walking alone does not
reduce falls and may increase them in frail adults.
,7. Benzodiazepine deprescribing should involve:
A. Abrupt discontinuation
B. Gradual tapering over weeks to months with patient education
C. Switching to zolpidem
D. Adding diphenhydramine
Correct Answer: B. Gradual tapering over weeks to months with patient education
Rationale: Abrupt stopping can cause seizures. Patient education improves success, as in the
EMPOWER trial.
8. Overtreatment with levothyroxine in older adults increases the risk of:
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Weight gain
C. Bradycardia
D. Atrial fibrillation and bone loss
Correct Answer: D. Atrial fibrillation and bone loss
Rationale: Doses should keep TSH in an age-appropriate range. Regular monitoring prevents
overtreatment.
9. When a patient insists on walking alone despite high risk, the nurse should:
A. Restrain the patient
B. Explore the reasons, educate, offer assistance and document the discussion
C. Ignore the patient
D. Sedate the patient
Correct Answer: B. Explore the reasons, educate, offer assistance and document the
discussion
Rationale: Understanding motivations helps. Respecting autonomy while ensuring safety is the
goal.
, 10. Keeping the call light and personal items within reach helps by:
A. Increasing clutter
B. Reducing the need to reach or get up unassisted
C. Replacing rounding
D. Preventing sleep
Correct Answer: B. Reducing the need to reach or get up unassisted
Rationale: Reaching for items is a common cause of falls. Placement should be checked each
visit.
11. Heel pressure injuries after hip fracture are prevented by:
A. Placing heels directly on the mattress
B. Using donut cushions
C. Massaging the heels
D. Floating the heels off the bed with pillows or heel boots
Correct Answer: D. Floating the heels off the bed with pillows or heel boots
Rationale: Immobile patients develop heel injuries quickly. Offloading is essential.
12. Lifting a fallen patient in the hospital should be done using:
A. One person lifting under the arms
B. The patient's arms only
C. Mechanical lifts or adequate staff with safe handling techniques after injury assessment
D. No assistance
Correct Answer: C. Mechanical lifts or adequate staff with safe handling techniques after
injury assessment
Rationale: Safe handling protects patients and staff. Injuries can occur from improper lifting.
Exam (Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Intrinsic fall risk factors are those related to:
A. The environment, such as rugs
B. The person, such as weakness, gait problems, vision loss and cognitive impairment
C. Weather only
D. Footwear only
Correct Answer: B. The person, such as weakness, gait problems, vision loss and cognitive
impairment
Rationale: Extrinsic factors relate to the environment. Most falls involve both.
2. Depression increases fall risk through:
A. Psychomotor slowing, poor concentration and antidepressant side effects
B. Improved energy
C. Better sleep
D. Increased attention
Correct Answer: A. Psychomotor slowing, poor concentration and antidepressant side effects
Rationale: Both the illness and its treatment contribute. Monitoring is important after starting
medications.
3. The Five Times Sit-to-Stand test measures:
A. Number of steps in a minute
B. The time needed to stand up fully from a chair five times without using the arms
C. Standing balance on one foot
D. Arm strength
Correct Answer: B. The time needed to stand up fully from a chair five times without using the
arms
Rationale: Longer times indicate lower-limb weakness and higher fall risk. It complements the
30-second chair stand.
,4. Measuring orthostatic blood pressure correctly involves:
A. Measuring only while sitting
B. Measuring immediately on standing only
C. Measuring only once lying down
D. Measuring after lying for 5 minutes, then at 1 and 3 minutes after standing
Correct Answer: D. Measuring after lying for 5 minutes, then at 1 and 3 minutes after standing
Rationale: Delayed drops may be missed with a single reading. Symptoms during standing are
also documented.
5. Effective fall prevention exercise generally requires a dose of about:
A. 10 minutes once a month
B. One session only
C. At least 3 hours per week of progressive balance and strength training over months
D. 2 weeks of daily walking
Correct Answer: C. At least 3 hours per week of progressive balance and strength training
over months
Rationale: Benefits require sustained participation. Progression keeps the exercise challenging.
6. Exercise programs that most effectively prevent falls emphasize:
A. Walking alone
B. Stretching alone
C. Chair yoga only
D. Balance and functional training, often combined with strength training
Correct Answer: D. Balance and functional training, often combined with strength training
Rationale: Balance-challenging exercise has the strongest evidence. Walking alone does not
reduce falls and may increase them in frail adults.
,7. Benzodiazepine deprescribing should involve:
A. Abrupt discontinuation
B. Gradual tapering over weeks to months with patient education
C. Switching to zolpidem
D. Adding diphenhydramine
Correct Answer: B. Gradual tapering over weeks to months with patient education
Rationale: Abrupt stopping can cause seizures. Patient education improves success, as in the
EMPOWER trial.
8. Overtreatment with levothyroxine in older adults increases the risk of:
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Weight gain
C. Bradycardia
D. Atrial fibrillation and bone loss
Correct Answer: D. Atrial fibrillation and bone loss
Rationale: Doses should keep TSH in an age-appropriate range. Regular monitoring prevents
overtreatment.
9. When a patient insists on walking alone despite high risk, the nurse should:
A. Restrain the patient
B. Explore the reasons, educate, offer assistance and document the discussion
C. Ignore the patient
D. Sedate the patient
Correct Answer: B. Explore the reasons, educate, offer assistance and document the
discussion
Rationale: Understanding motivations helps. Respecting autonomy while ensuring safety is the
goal.
, 10. Keeping the call light and personal items within reach helps by:
A. Increasing clutter
B. Reducing the need to reach or get up unassisted
C. Replacing rounding
D. Preventing sleep
Correct Answer: B. Reducing the need to reach or get up unassisted
Rationale: Reaching for items is a common cause of falls. Placement should be checked each
visit.
11. Heel pressure injuries after hip fracture are prevented by:
A. Placing heels directly on the mattress
B. Using donut cushions
C. Massaging the heels
D. Floating the heels off the bed with pillows or heel boots
Correct Answer: D. Floating the heels off the bed with pillows or heel boots
Rationale: Immobile patients develop heel injuries quickly. Offloading is essential.
12. Lifting a fallen patient in the hospital should be done using:
A. One person lifting under the arms
B. The patient's arms only
C. Mechanical lifts or adequate staff with safe handling techniques after injury assessment
D. No assistance
Correct Answer: C. Mechanical lifts or adequate staff with safe handling techniques after
injury assessment
Rationale: Safe handling protects patients and staff. Injuries can occur from improper lifting.
