Gerontological Nursing Certification Examination study guide
GERO-BC · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Gerontological Nursing Certification Examination (GERO-BC) is a specialty board credential for registered nurses who care for older adults and want their gerontological expertise formally recognized. Candidates typically work in long-term care, acute geriatrics, home health, hospice, assisted living, or outpatient settings where older adults make up most of the caseload. The GERO-BC study guide has 9 sections and about 2,329 words.
01Assessment and Management of the Older Adult
A geriatric assessment is multidimensional , not just a physical exam. Expect questions that test whether you recognize the domains: physical health, functional status (ADLs/IADLs), cognition, mood, nutrition, sensory function, social support, and advance care planning.
303 words, about 2 min02Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Prevention in older adults splits into primary (prevent disease), secondary (early detection), and tertiary (limit disability from existing disease). Know that screening recommendations are individualized by life expectancy and goals: cancer screening may be de-escalated when life expectancy is short or when the burden outweighs benefit.
295 words, about 1 min03Chronic Illness and Multimorbidity Management
Multimorbidity means multiple coexisting chronic conditions , and management shifts from single-disease guidelines to goal-concordant, patient-prioritized care . Key concepts: the difference between disease-specific targets and individualized targets (e.g., relaxed glycemic goals in frail elders to avoid hypoglycemia), the concept of competing risks (treating one condition may worsen another), and time-to-benefit (preventive therapies with long horizons may not help those with limited life expectancy).
267 words, about 1 min04Medication Management and Polypharmacy
Polypharmacy is commonly defined as five or more medications , and it matters because of cumulative risk: adverse drug events, interactions, and prescribing cascades. Know the prescribing cascade -treating a drug side effect with another drug-and the concept of deprescribing using tools like the Beers criteria and STOPP/START.
249 words, about 1 min05Functional Status, Mobility, and Falls Prevention
Function is assessed through ADLs (bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, feeding, continence) and IADLs (managing money, medications, transportation, shopping, cooking, housekeeping). Loss of IADLs often precedes ADL loss.
250 words, about 1 min06Cognitive and Mental Health
Distinguish delirium (acute, fluctuating, inattention), dementia (chronic, progressive cognitive decline affecting function), and depression (which can mimic dementia as "pseudodementia"). Delirium is a medical emergency-look for causes (infection, medications, pain, retention, constipation, hypoxia, metabolic).
229 words, about 1 min07Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Palliative care is comfort and quality-of-life focused care for serious illness at any stage , distinct from hospice, which is for a prognosis of about six months or less and foregoes curative-intent treatment. Know advance care planning concepts: living wills, durable power of attorney for health care, POLST/MOLST, and code status.
257 words, about 1 min08Care Coordination and Transitions of Care
Transitions of care-hospital to home, home to nursing facility, facility to hospital-are high-risk points for medication errors, information loss, and readmission . Key concepts: medication reconciliation at every transition, timely discharge summaries, follow-up appointments, and clear communication among the interprofessional team.
231 words, about 1 min09Ethics, Advocacy, and Patient Safety
Ethical practice rests on autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice . Autonomy drives informed consent and respect for patient wishes, including the right to refuse treatment.
248 words, about 1 min