Name
Chamberlain University
NR-439: RN Evidence-Based Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Name:
Date:
Patient falls are among the most frequently reported adverse events during hospital stays, leading to injuries in approximately 30% of cases. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have identified falls as a preventable healthcare-acquired condition. As the medical-surgical inpatient population continues to age, there is an increased risk of falls within this demographic (Godlock, Christiansen, & Feider, 2016). When a patient suffers a fall, the consequences can extend beyond physical harm to include emotional distress for the patient and their families, along with heightened financial burdens for healthcare facilities. Serious injuries from falls can lead to extended hospital stays, unplanned surgeries, and even fatalities (Williams, Szekendi, & Thomas, 2014). Consequently, it is crucial to implement effective fall risk assessments and prevention strategies. The primary goal of a fall prevention program is to minimize both the frequency and severity of patient falls while encouraging the highest level of patient independence possible (Schub & Karakashian, 2018). Establishing a fall prevention plan in collaboration with a patient safety team has been shown to reduce the fall rate from 1.90 to 0.69 falls per 1,000 occupied bed days (Godlock et al., 2016).
In identifying a quality or safety clinical priority area, the nursing practice problem I have selected is the prevention of patient falls. This issue is critical because falls not only pose immediate physical risks to patients but also lead to longer-term emotional and psychological consequences. My rationale for prioritizing this problem stems from the significant impact that fall-related injuries have on patient outcomes and hospital resource utilization. Preventing falls is essential to enhance patient safety and promote a culture of care within healthcare facilities.
Using the NR439 Guide for Writing PICOT Questions, the following PICOT question has been formulated:
Among adult inpatient medical/surgical patients (P), does performing a fall risk assessment and implementing a fall prevention plan (I) decrease the occurrence of falls in inpatient medical/surgical units (O) compared to previous fall rates where no fall prevention plan was implemented (C) over 6 months (T)?
PICOT Elements | Definition |
---|---|
P – Patient Population | Adult inpatient medical/surgical patients |
I – Intervention | Perform a fall risk assessment and implement a fall prevention plan |
C – Comparison | Compared to previous fall rates where no fall prevention plan was implemented |
O – Measurable Outcome | Decrease the occurrence of falls in inpatient medical/surgical units |
T – Time Frame | Over 6 months |
In searching for evidence pertinent to the selected nursing practice problem, I utilized the Chamberlain College of Nursing library to locate relevant studies. The evidence discovered involved research conducted in inpatient settings that highlighted improvements in fall occurrences following the implementation of targeted interventions. I chose this evidence because it specifically addressed nursing interventions and nurse training’s role in enhancing patient outcomes. Furthermore, the studies were peer-reviewed and published in nursing journals within a five-year timeframe.
Godlock, G., Christiansen, M., & Feider, L. (2016). Implementation of an Evidence-Based Patient Safety Team to Prevent Falls in Inpatient Medical Units. MEDSurg Nursing. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=112911528&site=eds-live&scope=site
Schub, T., & Karakashian, A. (2018). Fall Prevention Plans: Implementing. CINAHL Nursing Guide. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nup&AN=T703871&site=eds-live&scope=site
Williams, T., Szekendi, M., & Thomas, S. (2014). An Analysis of Patient Falls and Fall Prevention Programs Across Academic Medical Centers. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdc&AN=23842442&site=eds-live&scope=site
From the reviewed evidence, I learned that any intervention aimed at preventing falls is preferable to having no intervention at all. Various factors contribute to falls, including medications, diagnoses, and physical limitations; however, the consistent finding is that nursing interventions significantly reduce fall occurrences. Falls have severe implications for patients and can lead to substantial financial burdens for healthcare facilities, resulting in longer stays, unplanned surgeries, and even death (Williams et al., 2014). As highlighted by Godlock, Christiansen, and Feider (2016), a fall prevention plan developed in collaboration with a patient safety team can effectively lower fall rates significantly. Therefore, I believe the nursing evidence-based practice committee should prioritize their next research project on fall prevention strategies for inpatients.
Godlock, G., Christiansen, M., & Feider, L. (2016). Implementation of an Evidence-Based Patient Safety Team to Prevent Falls in Inpatient Medical Units. MEDSurg Nursing. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=112911528&site=eds-live&scope=site
Schub, T., & Karakashian, A. (2018). Fall Prevention Plans: Implementing. CINAHL Nursing Guide. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nup&AN=T703871&site=eds-live&scope=site
Williams, T., Szekendi, M., & Thomas, S. (2014). An Analysis of Patient Falls and Fall Prevention Programs Across Academic Medical Centers. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdc&AN=23842442&site=eds-live&scope=site
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