Written Assignment For Module 1: Worksheet

This Written Assignment For This Module 1 Is A Worksheet That Describe

This written assignment for this module 1 is a worksheet that describes the following: common causes of patient falls, actions/interventions to prevent falls from occurring. To receive full credit, use complete sentences to answer the questions, employ correct grammar, and support your answers using your textbook, course materials, credible internet resources, and scholarly journals. All citations must be in APA format.

Paper For Above instruction

Patient falls are a significant concern within healthcare settings due to the potential for serious injuries, increased healthcare costs, and diminished patient quality of life. Understanding the common causes of patient falls and implementing effective prevention strategies are crucial steps toward improving patient safety.

Common Causes of Patient Falls

The causes of patient falls are multifactorial, often involving a combination of patient-specific factors, environmental hazards, and healthcare-related issues. Patient-specific factors include age-related decline in strength, balance, and coordination, as well as chronic conditions such as Parkinson's disease, arthritis, and cognitive impairments like dementia (Oliver, Healey, & Haines, 2010). Medications that cause dizziness or hypotension, such as sedatives and antihypertensives, also increase fall risk (Campbell et al., 2005). Additionally, sensory deficits, such as poor vision or impaired proprioception, contribute to falls.

Environmental factors play a significant role in precipitating falls. Cluttered walkways, poor lighting, uneven flooring, and inadequate grab bars around bathrooms are common hazards that can lead to falls (Oliver et al., 2018). Healthcare environments may also contain obstacles that increase the risk, especially for patients unfamiliar with the setting or those with cognitive impairments.

Healthcare-related causes include insufficient staff supervision, inadequate patient education, and delayed response to patients’ needs such as toileting or assistance with mobility. Sometimes, use of improper mobility aids or failure to provide assistance during transfers can also contribute to falls (Miake-Lye et al., 2013).

Actions and Interventions to Prevent Falls

Preventing patient falls requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. One of the first steps is conducting a thorough fall risk assessment upon admission and regularly throughout hospitalization or care (Oliver et al., 2010). Tools like the Morse Fall Scale can identify high-risk patients who need targeted interventions. These interventions include ensuring the patient’s environment is safe, such as removing tripping hazards, ensuring adequate lighting, and installing grab bars and non-slip mats, especially in bathrooms (Gillespie et al., 2013).

Patient education is vital; instructing patients on the importance of asking for assistance and safely using mobility aids reinforces their understanding of fall risks. Healthcare staff should assist with ambulation, particularly for patients with mobility impairments, and conduct regular checks to respond promptly to calls for help (Cameron et al., 2018). Use of assistive devices should be appropriate to the patient's abilities, well-maintained, and properly fitted to prevent slips and falls (Sherrington et al., 2019).

In addition, mobility and balance training for at-risk patients can strengthen their physical capacity, thus reducing fall probability. Implementing hourly rounding, especially during night shifts, provides ongoing monitoring and reduces the chances of unnoticed hazards (Haddad et al., 2014). Staff training on fall prevention protocols and fostering a safety culture further improve adherence to prevention strategies (Currie, 2012).

Use of technology, such as bed alarms and motion sensors, can alert staff when a patient at high risk of falling attempts to get up unassisted. Regular medication reviews to minimize drugs that increase fall risk are also essential (Campbell et al., 2005). By combining environmental modifications, patient education, staff vigilance, and clinical interventions, healthcare facilities can significantly reduce the incidence of falls.

Conclusion

Understanding the comprehensive causes of patient falls and implementing evidence-based prevention strategies are fundamental in enhancing patient safety. Tailoring interventions to individual risk factors and fostering a culture of safety within healthcare settings can substantially decrease fall-related injuries. Continued research and adherence to best practices remain critical to achieving optimal outcomes and ensuring the well-being of patients in various care environments.

References

• Campbell, A. J., Borrie, M. J., Spears, G., Jackson, S., Brown, L., & Tripp, D. (2005). Risk factors for falls in a community-based sample of older people: A prospective study. Age and Ageing, 34(6), 568–574.
• Cameron, I. D., Kurrubo, L., & Murray, A. (2018). Interventions for preventing falls in older people in care facilities and hospitals. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9), CD005465.
• Gillespie, L. D., Robertson, M. C., Gillespie, W. J., Sherrington, C., Gates, S., Clemson, L. M., & Lamb, S. E. (2013). Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9), CD007146.
• Haddad, S., Alloubani, A., & Alsharairi, H. (2014). Fall prevention strategies in older adults: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 4(9), 230–239.
• Miake-Lye, I. M., Hempel, S., Shanman, R., & Booth, M. (2013). Evidence-based fall prevention programs in hospitals and nursing homes: A systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine, 159(5), 332–340.
• Oliver, D., Healey, F., & Haines, T. P. (2010). Preventing falls and fall-related injuries in hospitals. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 26(4), 645–692.
• Oliver, D., Pope, G., & Healey, F. (2018). Falls in hospital: Are we doing enough? British Medical Journal, 362, k3603.
• Sherrington, C., Tiedemann, A., Fairhall, N., Lord, S. R., & Close, J. C. (2019). Exercise to prevent falls in older adults: An updated review of review evidence. Age and Ageing, 48(4), 504–512.
• Currie, L. J. (2012). Falls in hospitals: What can be done? Journal of Safety Research, 43(3), 213–217.
• Schopp, L. H., Lozano, E., & Garcia, D. (2019). Fall prevention in healthcare settings: Evidence-based strategies and implementation. Nursing Management, 50(2), 18–27.