Question

The nurse is sitting in on a treatment team meeting about reducing the risk of falls on the unit. In the last year, the unit has had five elderly people fall from bed or while getting up to void at night. Administration would like the treatment team to develop and implement a fall-prevention program. This would include the development of a risk assessment tool when patients are admitted to the floor to determine who is at high risk for falls and then implementing educational opportunities for all staff involved.

1. What fall risk interventions are of high importance and why? List at least 5 and provide a detailed description of these interventions are important.

2. What other educational opportunities are there for educating patients and family?

Answer 1

Fall risk intervention are of high importance because the patient is under the care of hospital staff if his symptoms and injury elevate after admitting to hoaspital than the guardian can take a legal action .safety is a first priority of a patient.

The older adults are at great risk of injury due to fall it will cause a hip fracture and bruises .

Nurse need to asses cognitive ability and physical ability of a patient.some neurological patient can't able to make proper gait and balance.most aggressive patient try everymean to walk out of bed on their own when no one is monitoring.

Fall risk must be balanced with other priorities of the patient.because patient is not admitted because of fall so attention is naturally directed.fall can prolong the hospitalization of patient.

Fall prevention is interdisciplinary.nurse doctor relatives must prevent patient from fall .

Every patient has different fall risk so care must thoughtfully address each patient unique needs.

b) 1.Keep the bed in lowest position during use unless impractical ( unless doing any procedure)confused and disorientated patient are more likely to fall if one of the railing is left down.

2.Put the 2 sides of railing up in a bed.the patient might fall during a sleep or changing positions.

3. Provide sign and secure wrist band for identification of fall risk patient .to implement action for prevention of fall.

4.move items used by the patient within easy reach like water , call, light, telephone.

5gurantee appropriate room light during night. Older patient had reduced visual ability if they get up at night.

Ans2.monitor a patient physical and congnitive behavior.

Always Lock the chair ,wheel chair , bed of a older patient .

Always monitor mental status change in patient.sometime they confuse and increase chance of fall.

Provide nutritional diet to patient.older adult suffering from osteoporosis and arthritis increase risk of fall.

Explain all details of patient condition to family member and educate them to follow health care plan.

Family members are teach to keep walking with older adult according to their gait and spped so that they don't lose balance.

Always instruct patient to wear properly fitted cloth so that they dont fall .