fall protocols

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi everyone,

I am curious to know if anyone has instituted fall protocols/prevention for their units and what have you done? Our fall rate (neuroscience tele unit) is high. I am aware with our type of patient population this is an issue on many neuro units but interested in learning what others have done to decrease falls on their units.

Thanks

Fall prevention is a big deal in the long term care industry since it is seen as a quality indicator. This would be a good place to start your search for a policy/preceedure that can be adapted for your unit.

We have a fall risk assessment. They get certain number of points for easch item. Then at say 50 points they get siderail, bedcheck, and geri chair.

We have had a Fall Risk Assessment on every admission for at least 8 years. They get points for certain things such as: any falls in the last year, difficuly seeing or hearing, weakness, diuretic therapy, confusion, communications difficulties. I can't remember them all, each one is one point, 5 points or over makes them a THUD 2 (stands for To Halt Unplanned Descents) 1-5 points is a THUD1, 0 points is No Fall Risk. The nurses judgement can also override the point thing. The THUD2 get a purple armband, placed close to nsg station, purple tag outside door, and they are giving more frequent checking and tolieting, as well as bed alarm. It has really help decrease falls. Although over the years some people have become lax in implementing all the interventions mostly signage.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

THUD....what a cute acronym! Sounds like an effective protocol, though, when it's implemented correctly.

we have a fall risk assessment similar to batmik's...works very well. they are reviewed monthly and are immediately (well, asap)reassessed if there has been a recent incident

In the process of implementing fall protocol/prevention program. We have fall risk assessment with point system that seems to work well. The hard part is to implement prevention/protocols. Need to have total staff effort to make a program successful, i.e education, creativity, and documentation etc. Good luck!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

We had such a problem our hospital invested in bed alarms for our Neuroscience and other units. We use bed alarms on high risk patients so we can tell hopefully when they are about to get up.

I worked neuroscience for 3 years and know it can be a challenge. Frequent checks, and offering or taking them to the bathroom often helps also.

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