What is an appropriate nursing diagnosis for an older adult who has fallen and demonstrates fear of falling?

• A. Fall risk
• B. Acute pain
• C. Altered sensory perception
• D. Risk for infection

Answer: (A)

When a patient has fallen and also shows fear of falling, the focus is on the risk of another fall and the factors that could enable one. Naming the situation as fall risk highlights that the individual remains vulnerable to future harm and needs preventive measures, not just treatment for an injury. In older adults, fear of falls can reduce activity, leading to weakness, balance problems, and deconditioning, which increases actual fall risk. So the nursing diagnosis centers on preventing another fall by addressing physical factors (medication effects, gait and balance issues, vision, footwear) and psychosocial factors (anxiety, activity avoidance), while implementing safety measures and patient education. The other options don’t fit because acute pain would require current pain evidence from an injury, altered sensory perception isn’t indicated by the scenario, and risk for infection isn’t relevant to a fall with no infection signs.