NURS 6540 Week 5: Common Geriatric Syndromes – Falls

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NURS 6540 Week 5: Common Geriatric Syndromes – Falls essay assignment

NURS 6540: Advanced Practice Care of Frail Elders | Week 5 essay assignment

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), falls are the leading cause of injury and death among those 65 and older. As patients age, basic activities that were once a routine part of daily life become increasingly difficult, posing health risks. This was the case for 79-year-old Claire Broome. While simply putting on a pair of pants, she slipped on her hardwood floors. This unexpected fall caused her to fracture her hip (Cameron, 2011). For geriatric patients like Broome, fall prevention is an integral part of care, and many patient falls can be prevented. As an advanced practice nurse caring for this patient population, you must recognize factors that put patients at greater risk and provide the appropriate patient education.

NURS 6540 Week 5: Common Geriatric Syndromes – Falls essay assignment

This week you explore fall-risk assessment tools, practice guidelines, and strategies for preventing and reducing falls in geriatric patients. You also examine atypical presentations of disorders, including strategies to overcome the atypical presentations.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, students will:
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of fall- risk assessment tools
  • Analyze strategies to reduce the risk of falls for geriatric patients
  • Apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to the common geriatric syndrome of falls
  • Analyze atypical presentations of disorders in geriatric patients*
  • Analyze strategies used to overcome atypical presentations of disorders in geriatric patients*

Fall risks are very high for the geriatric population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), one out of every three adults aged 65 years and older falls each year. This can be attributed to factors such as changes in aging, other health issues, environment, and effects of prescribed drugs. When caring for geriatric patients, it is important to screen them for risks and perform fall-risk assessments. These assessment tools help to determine the level of risk for patients so that preventive measures can be taken. The implications of falls are very serious and range from fractures to mental health disorders and even death. In this Discussion, you explore risk assessment tools for use with patients at your practicum site.

To prepare:

    • Review the Kanis article in this week’s Learning Resources.
    • Consider a geriatric patient at your practicum site who is at risk for falls. Coordinate an opportunity to assess this patient with your Preceptor.

Note: When referring to your patient, make sure to use a pseudonym or other false form of identification. This is to ensure the privacy and protection of the patient.

  • In addition to the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX), select one of the following tools to assess this patient for falls:
    • Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)
    • Systems Approach
    • Berg Balance Scale
    • Elderly Mobility Scale
    • Timed Unsupported Stead Stand (TUSS)
    • Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
    • Hendrich II Fall Risk Model
  • Consider why you selected the assessment tool for this particular patient.
  • Assess the patient using the tool you selected under Preceptor guidance. Reflect on the assessment, including any issues with the patient and/or the effectiveness of the tool.
  • Think about strategies and interventions to reduce the risk of falls for frail elders.

By Day 3

Post a case study description of a geriatric patient from your practicum site who is at risk for falls. Describe this patient’s FRAX assessment. Then, describe the other assessment tool you used in the fall-risk assessment and explain why you selected the tool for this particular patient. Explain the patient assessment, including any issues with the patient and/or the effectiveness of the tool. Finally, explain strategies to reduce the risk of falls for your patient.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days in one or more of the ways listed below. Respond to colleagues who selected a different assessment tool than you did.

  • Suggest alternative tools for assessing your colleagues’ patients.
  • Recommend additional strategies to reduce the risk of falls for your colleagues’ patients.
  • Share insights based on your own experience and additional literature search.