Practice Question
The nurse is performing a functional assessment of an older adult to determine safety in the home. Which musculoskeletal assessment is most important for the nurse to include?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Observe gait while walking.
Rationale:
🟦 When assessing an older adult’s safety in the home, the most important musculoskeletal assessment is to observe gait while walking, because gait abnormalities significantly increase the risk for falls, which are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults.
🟦 Gait observation allows the nurse to evaluate balance, coordination, stride length, weight-bearing ability, and need for assistive devices, all of which determine how safely the client can move around their home.
🟦 Early identification of gait instability helps guide interventions such as home modifications, physical therapy, fall-prevention education, and assistive equipment.
🟦 This assessment directly reflects functional mobility and independence—key factors in an elderly person’s ability to safely navigate their living environment.
🟦 Therefore, observing the client’s gait is the most crucial musculoskeletal assessment for determining home safety.
❌ Incorrect Options Explained
Palpate for joint nodules
— Useful for diagnosing arthritis, but joint nodules do not directly determine home safety or fall risk.
Compare shoulder symmetry
— Identifies deformities, but does not assess functional mobility or predict hazards in the home.
Assess for spinal scoliosis
— Important for posture evaluation, but scoliosis is not a major fall predictor in older adults and does not directly impact home safety.
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This question is from Fall 2025-BSN -246 RN Health Assessment which contains 59 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: Health Assessment
- Answer Choices: 4