Fall Prevention Tactics

Currently, at the orthopedic surgical unit, several fall prevention tactics are put in place. However, it is not being implemented effectively. The unit fall tactics include fall risk assessment tool, using the bed and chair alarms, gait belt, hourly rounding, yellow fall kit, the kit includes a yellow blanket, socks, fall risk bracelet, and a magnet to place at the patient’s door. On 4/10/17 the unit started new safety tactics called the safety huddle at the begin of each shift to increase staff awareness related to patient’s safety issue. Even though these fall prevention tactics are put in place to prevent fall and ensure safe and quality care, patients are still falling because these tactics are not being utilized effectively. The nurses
Falls has been identified by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid as hospital-acquired condition, meaning it can be prevented and should not occur (DuPree, Fritz & Mushene, 2014). Patient safety is vital; therefore, safety is not limited to nursing and bedside care providers, all employees should be aware of high fall risk patient and fall protocols. Studies have shown a significant reduction in fall injury by adopting an organizational awareness of fall safety that was communicated and incorporated into the continuum of patient care, also empowering the patient in taking an active role in their safety, creates a partnership to prevent fall (DuPree et al., 2014). Emphasizing the important to educate patients about their fall and injury risk and suggested teach back on how to use their call button to call for an assistant is an effective patient-centered fall prevention strategy and also bedside shift report in another way to facilitate effective communication between patient and nursing staff (Huey-Ming, 2015). Assessing patient is vital to identify their fall risk status, according to DuPree et al., (2014) using the fall assessment tool integrated into the electronic medical record is important to identify high-risk patient and create awareness. Hourly rounding and patient partnering
A retrospective review of the unit fall rate was performed, fall rates were compared quarterly and with the implementation dates of fall prevention interventions, which are safety huddles, signage and hourly rounding. Also, the culture of safety scores was examined to assess its effect on lowering fall rates. A substantial decrease in fall rate was noted after the initial revitalization efforts of the inpatient culture of safety concurrent with hour rounding. According to the research hour rounding is an appropriately safe and useful strategy for patient safety and fall prevention. According to Leone et al., (2016), hour rounding or purposeful rounding have a positive effect on decreasing fall rate. It allows for a patient to receive assistant with the 4Ps: pain, position, potty, and placement of personal items, meeting these needs will prevent the patient from getting out of bed without assistance to try and help themselves. Also regular meeting in discussing outcomes and review the effectiveness of unit policy and procedures is necessary to assess if goals are being met and formulate new ideas to promote quality care and ensure best practice. Communication is a vital component in delivering safe quality care; therefore, safety huddles at the begin of each shift allows staff on the