More questions on the topic

More questions on the topic ( 39 Questions)

A nurse is assessing an older adult client who has a history of falls.

Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a risk factor for falls in older adults?



Correct Answer: D

The correct answer is D.

All of the above. All of these findings are risk factors for falls in older adults, according to the literature.

Some explanations for why each choice is a risk factor are:.

A. Orthostatic hypotension: This is a condition where blood pressure drops too much when getting up from lying down or sitting, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. This can affect balance and increase the chance of falling.

B. Urinary frequency: This is a condition where one needs to urinate often, sometimes urgently. This can cause rushed movement to the bathroom, especially at night, which can lead to tripping, slipping, or losing balance.

C. Visual impairment: This is a condition where one has reduced or distorted vision, such as due to cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy. This can affect depth perception, contrast sensitivity, and ability to detect obstacles or hazards in the environment.

Some normal ranges for these conditions are:.

• Orthostatic hypotension: A normal blood pressure change when standing up is less than 20 mmHg systolic (top number) or 10 mmHg diastolic (bottom number).

Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop of at least 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic within 3 minutes of standing.

• Urinary frequency: A normal urinary frequency is about 4 to 6 times per day, depending on fluid intake and other factors.

Urinary frequency is considered abnormal if it is more than 8 times per day or more than 2 times per night.

• Visual impairment: A normal visual acuity is 20/20 or better with or without correction.

Visual impairment is defined as a visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye with best correction possible.




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