Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

How many shared risk factors are present in geriatric syndromes?

1. 3

2. 10

3. 4

4. 11

The correct answer is: 4

Geriatric syndromes encompass a set of common health issues among older adults that do not fit neatly into discrete disease categories. These syndromes, which include conditions like falls, frailty, incontinence, mood disorders, and delirium, are influenced by multiple interrelated risk factors, many of which overlap across different syndromes. The correct answer identifies that there are four primary shared risk factors typically associated with these syndromes. These risk factors commonly include polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications), cognitive impairment, functional impairment, and malnutrition. Each of these factors can play a significant role in the development or exacerbation of geriatric syndromes, making them critical components for healthcare providers to address in clinical practice. Recognizing these four shared risk factors allows clinical nurse specialists and other healthcare professionals to tailor interventions that target these underlying issues, potentially reducing the incidence and severity of geriatric syndromes in their patient population. Understanding the interconnectedness of these factors is crucial in promoting better health outcomes in the elderly.