Gerontological Nursing - 2026 Fall Prevention & Frailty:
Practice Test 1 (Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Normal age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system include:
A. Increased muscle mass
B. Increased height
C. Loss of muscle mass and strength and decreased bone density
D. Increased joint flexibility
Correct Answer: C. Loss of muscle mass and strength and decreased bone density
Rationale: These changes contribute to fall and fracture risk. Exercise can slow them.
2. Foot problems in older adults that increase fall risk include:
A. Normal arches
B. Flexible joints
C. Bunions, toe deformities, foot pain and reduced sensation
D. Short toenails
Correct Answer: C. Bunions, toe deformities, foot pain and reduced sensation
Rationale: Podiatry and proper footwear help. Pain alters gait.
3. The American Geriatrics Society guiding principles for multimorbidity include:
A. Treating all conditions maximally
B. Ignoring prognosis
C. Eliciting patient preferences, interpreting evidence for older adults and considering prognosis
D. Avoiding patient input
Correct Answer: C. Eliciting patient preferences, interpreting evidence for older adults and
considering prognosis
Rationale: Principles support individualized care. Evidence from younger populations may not
apply.
,4. Proprioception in older adults commonly:
A. Improves
B. Is unaffected
C. Only declines in diabetes
D. Declines, reducing awareness of body position and increasing fall risk
Correct Answer: D. Declines, reducing awareness of body position and increasing fall risk
Rationale: Neuropathy worsens this further. Balance training addresses deficits.
5. Older adults' preferences about activity and independence should be:
A. Incorporated into fall prevention plans
B. Ignored for safety
C. Decided by staff
D. Decided by family only
Correct Answer: A. Incorporated into fall prevention plans
Rationale: Plans that match goals improve adherence. Shared decision-making is key.
6. A new fall in an older adult should prompt the nurse to consider:
A. An acute illness such as infection, dehydration or medication change
B. Normal aging only
C. Laziness
D. Discharge without assessment
Correct Answer: A. An acute illness such as infection, dehydration or medication change
Rationale: Falls are often a sign of underlying problems. Evaluation can reveal treatable causes.
,7. Telomere shortening as a biological theory of aging suggests that:
A. Cells lose replicative capacity as protective chromosome ends shorten with each division
B. Aging is caused by sunlight only
C. Aging is purely psychological
D. Cells divide indefinitely
Correct Answer: A. Cells lose replicative capacity as protective chromosome ends shorten
with each division
Rationale: Biological theories describe cellular mechanisms. Psychosocial theories such as
activity theory address roles and engagement.
8. Immunosenescence in older adults results in:
A. Weaker responses to infection and vaccines, so age-specific vaccines such as high-dose
influenza and recombinant zoster are recommended
B. Stronger immune responses
C. No change in vaccine response
D. Immunity to all infections
Correct Answer: A. Weaker responses to infection and vaccines, so age-specific vaccines such
as high-dose influenza and recombinant zoster are recommended
Rationale: Age-adapted vaccines improve protection. RSV vaccination is also recommended for
many adults 75 and older and those 60 to 74 at increased risk.
9. Gerontological nursing certification for registered nurses is offered by:
A. The Joint Commission
B. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
C. CMS
D. The FDA
Correct Answer: B. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Rationale: Certification demonstrates specialized knowledge. CMS and the FDA do not certify
nurses.
, 10. The fastest-growing segment of the older adult population in the United States is adults
aged:
A. 85 years and older
B. 65 to 69
C. 55 to 64
D. 70 to 74
Correct Answer: A. 85 years and older
Rationale: The oldest-old have the highest rates of frailty and falls. Planning for this group is a
priority.
11. Age-related changes in the urinary system include:
A. Decreased bladder capacity and increased nocturia
B. Increased bladder capacity
C. Decreased urination at night
D. Improved kidney function
Correct Answer: A. Decreased bladder capacity and increased nocturia
Rationale: Nighttime toileting increases fall risk. Incontinence is not a normal part of aging.
12. The Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program:
A. Is a nursing home license
B. Helps hospitals improve care of older adults through geriatric resource nurses and
evidence-based protocols
C. Is an insurance program
D. Trains physicians only
Correct Answer: B. Helps hospitals improve care of older adults through geriatric resource
nurses and evidence-based protocols
Rationale: NICHE supports nurse-led geriatric care. It is used in many hospitals.
Practice Test 1 (Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Normal age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system include:
A. Increased muscle mass
B. Increased height
C. Loss of muscle mass and strength and decreased bone density
D. Increased joint flexibility
Correct Answer: C. Loss of muscle mass and strength and decreased bone density
Rationale: These changes contribute to fall and fracture risk. Exercise can slow them.
2. Foot problems in older adults that increase fall risk include:
A. Normal arches
B. Flexible joints
C. Bunions, toe deformities, foot pain and reduced sensation
D. Short toenails
Correct Answer: C. Bunions, toe deformities, foot pain and reduced sensation
Rationale: Podiatry and proper footwear help. Pain alters gait.
3. The American Geriatrics Society guiding principles for multimorbidity include:
A. Treating all conditions maximally
B. Ignoring prognosis
C. Eliciting patient preferences, interpreting evidence for older adults and considering prognosis
D. Avoiding patient input
Correct Answer: C. Eliciting patient preferences, interpreting evidence for older adults and
considering prognosis
Rationale: Principles support individualized care. Evidence from younger populations may not
apply.
,4. Proprioception in older adults commonly:
A. Improves
B. Is unaffected
C. Only declines in diabetes
D. Declines, reducing awareness of body position and increasing fall risk
Correct Answer: D. Declines, reducing awareness of body position and increasing fall risk
Rationale: Neuropathy worsens this further. Balance training addresses deficits.
5. Older adults' preferences about activity and independence should be:
A. Incorporated into fall prevention plans
B. Ignored for safety
C. Decided by staff
D. Decided by family only
Correct Answer: A. Incorporated into fall prevention plans
Rationale: Plans that match goals improve adherence. Shared decision-making is key.
6. A new fall in an older adult should prompt the nurse to consider:
A. An acute illness such as infection, dehydration or medication change
B. Normal aging only
C. Laziness
D. Discharge without assessment
Correct Answer: A. An acute illness such as infection, dehydration or medication change
Rationale: Falls are often a sign of underlying problems. Evaluation can reveal treatable causes.
,7. Telomere shortening as a biological theory of aging suggests that:
A. Cells lose replicative capacity as protective chromosome ends shorten with each division
B. Aging is caused by sunlight only
C. Aging is purely psychological
D. Cells divide indefinitely
Correct Answer: A. Cells lose replicative capacity as protective chromosome ends shorten
with each division
Rationale: Biological theories describe cellular mechanisms. Psychosocial theories such as
activity theory address roles and engagement.
8. Immunosenescence in older adults results in:
A. Weaker responses to infection and vaccines, so age-specific vaccines such as high-dose
influenza and recombinant zoster are recommended
B. Stronger immune responses
C. No change in vaccine response
D. Immunity to all infections
Correct Answer: A. Weaker responses to infection and vaccines, so age-specific vaccines such
as high-dose influenza and recombinant zoster are recommended
Rationale: Age-adapted vaccines improve protection. RSV vaccination is also recommended for
many adults 75 and older and those 60 to 74 at increased risk.
9. Gerontological nursing certification for registered nurses is offered by:
A. The Joint Commission
B. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
C. CMS
D. The FDA
Correct Answer: B. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Rationale: Certification demonstrates specialized knowledge. CMS and the FDA do not certify
nurses.
, 10. The fastest-growing segment of the older adult population in the United States is adults
aged:
A. 85 years and older
B. 65 to 69
C. 55 to 64
D. 70 to 74
Correct Answer: A. 85 years and older
Rationale: The oldest-old have the highest rates of frailty and falls. Planning for this group is a
priority.
11. Age-related changes in the urinary system include:
A. Decreased bladder capacity and increased nocturia
B. Increased bladder capacity
C. Decreased urination at night
D. Improved kidney function
Correct Answer: A. Decreased bladder capacity and increased nocturia
Rationale: Nighttime toileting increases fall risk. Incontinence is not a normal part of aging.
12. The Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program:
A. Is a nursing home license
B. Helps hospitals improve care of older adults through geriatric resource nurses and
evidence-based protocols
C. Is an insurance program
D. Trains physicians only
Correct Answer: B. Helps hospitals improve care of older adults through geriatric resource
nurses and evidence-based protocols
Rationale: NICHE supports nurse-led geriatric care. It is used in many hospitals.
