Each year, somewhere between 700,000 and 1,000,000 people in the United States fall in the hospital. A fall may result in fractures, lacerations, or internal bleeding, leading to increased health care utilization. Research shows that close to one-third of falls are preventable. Fall prevention involves managing a patient’s underlying fall risk factors and optimizing the hospital’s physical design and environment.
There is a business case for fall prevention: Falls are associated with increased length of stay, higher rates of discharge to nursing homes, and greater health care utilization. One study found that operational costs for fallers with serious injury were $13,316 higher than non-fallers. As of 2008, Medicare no longer reimburses hospitals for increased costs due to injury from an inpatient fall. (Department of Health and Human Services, 2021)
Using your e-book or search engine:
1) Discuss at least 4 steps you as a nurse may take to prevent falls in the facility.
2) Discuss physical complications of falls to the client.
3) Your client has fallen. Write 5 nursing actions you take as you care for this client over the next 24 hours (including any you would anticipate receiving orders for).
Reference(s):
Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved from Preventing Falls In Hospitals: https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/fall-prevention/toolkit/ready-change.html#1-5
