Question

A patient has just fallen in the hospital unit where you work and fractured their skull. A team of personnel are asked to collaborate and develop a fall prevention program that includes using the Morse Fall Scale.

In your initial discussion post

Identify the members included on the team and why they are important to include

Identify the components used in the Morse Fall Risk Scale

Identify key points to consider when developing a fall prevention plan (Use the literature to support your decision)

Answer 1

Ans)Situation given: Patient fallen in hospital unit.

Fall prevention program includes Morse fall scale:

- The Morse Fall Scale (MFS) is a rapid and simple method of assessing a patient's likelihood of falling. Fall risk assessment scale.

-The goal of patient safety practices like fall prevention is to prevent additional harm to patients while they are hospitalized.

Members included in team:

- The Unit Team will include everyone on the unit, such as RN, LPN, CNA, medical staff, pharmacist, physical therapist / occupational therapist, and other staff assigned to a unit on a regular basis.

- The Unit Team members provides daily direct patient care by conducting fall risk assessments, planning care for fall prevention also ensures care is performed and documented therefore they all are important in the team.

Components used in the Morse fall Risk scale:

- History of falling: immediate or within 3 months

No 0
Yes 25
- Secondary diagnosis:

No 0

Yes 15

- Ambulatory aid:
Bed rest/nurse assist 0
Crutches/cane/walker 15
Furniture 30

- IV/Heparin Lock

No 0
Yes 20

- Gait/Transferring:
Normal/bedrest/immobile 0
Weak 10
Impaired 20

- Mental status:
Oriented to own ability 0
Forgets limitations 15

Key points to consider when developing a fall prevention plan

• Universal fall precautions, including scheduled rounding protocols.
• Standardized assessment of fall risk factors: Morse fall scale in initial assessment.
• Care planning, interventions and evaluation.
• Postfall procedures includes: Take patient to bed, assess vital signs, inform to on -call Dr, carry out the orders given, fill in CQI form and perform root cause analysis.

As prevention is better so focused on prevention:

• Morse fall risk assessment scale
• Identify the patients at risk for fall
• Include them in vulnerable patients category and have a seperate ID band to identify them easily.
• Familiarize the patient with the environment.
• Have the patient demonstrate call bell use.
• Maintain call bell within patient's reach.
• Keep the patient's personal possessions within patient safe reach.
• Have sturdy handrails/ grab bars in patient bathrooms, room, and hallway.
• Show them night lamps.
• Compulsory one attendant with parient.
• Place the hospital bed height in low when a patient is resting in bed; raise bed to a comfortable height when the patient is transferring out of bed.
• Side railings of bed should be always up so patient while sleeping won't fall.
• Keep hospital bed brakes locked.
• Keep wheelchair wheel locks in "locked" position when stationary.
• Keep nonslip, comfortable, well-fitting footwear on the patient.
• Avoid slippery floors.
• Use of caution boards by housekeeping staffs while cleaning floor to create awareness.
• Keep floor surfaces clean and dry. Clean up all spills promptly.
• Keep patient care areas uncluttered.
• Follow safe patient handling practices
• Safety boards in room to develop awareness.
• Anti skid mats outside bathrooms.
• Get your vision and hearing checked annually to avoid
• Use safety belts during transportation.