Abstract
Background: Literature searches have shown a correlation between high risk fall medications and care equipment (eg., sequential compression device) relating to falls with or without injury among adults 65 years and older. The cost of treating falls in the elderly in the United States in 2000 was more than $19 million and is estimated to increase to $54.9 billion by 2020. Falls is defined as preventable under the new healthcare guideline and is a non-reimbursable cost to hospitals.
Aims: The purpose was to increase nurses’ knowledge on high risk fall medications, care equipment, and differentiating falls with or without injury.
Method: A pre test and post test following interventions was developed and distributed to 53 nurses. A knowledge assessment was conducted using a pre test and post test to participating bedside nurses.
Results: Results of this project indicated an overall increase in nursing knowledge with 100% of the post test answered correctly. Additionally, nursing staff felt the educational initiative was beneficial to their work environment. An increase in communication was found through utilization of the registered nurse and clinical partner report sheet. Early implementation of the extended falls precautions bundle showed a significant reduction in falls between its inception in 2013 and 2015.
Conclusion: Falls are associated with consequences including increased hospital length of stay and non-reimbursement. In an effort to improve the standards of care relating to fall prevention, having a performance improvement project focusing on patient’s safety was positively received by nursing staff. The current emphasis on practicing in a safer environment and encouraging every one to remember that the greatest way to treat our patients is by following best standards of care. Having a falls precautions bundle incorporating the assessment of high risk medications, care equipment, and providing patient/family education has decreased our incidence of falls with and without injury.
Publication Date
6-17-2016
Presented At:
11th Annual BHSF Research Conference
Content Type
Poster
Baptist Health South Florida Affiliations:
Claire Croswell RN, MSN, POF
Citation
Croswell, Claire, "Fall Prevention Initiatives to Reduce the Number of Falls With or Without Injury on a Multi-Specialty Progressive Care Unit" (2016). All Publications. 2702.
https://scholarlycommons.baptisthealth.net/se-all-publications/2702
Open Access
Available to all.