falls

[cebuana_nurse]

I got a call from the 11-7 nurse supervisor last night saying that I didn't report a fall. I was wondering what's your facility's description of a fall? I didn't report the fall because my resident who to my perception didn't fell, she 'almost fell'. Resident was already at the edge of her wheelchair when I caught it and we eventually ended up on the floor with her knees touching the floor. She is 260 pounds and I'm only 110 and 5 foot tall, trying to stand the resident all by myself was impossible. She was holding the edge of her bed so tight that I can't even stand her up. I was there for 5 minutes and thank God that my aide passed by and called another aide to help her put to bed. Now, the said CNA told the 11-7 shift (she worked a double that night) that she wants to go home at the middle of her shift because her back hurts because this said resident fell.

Bottom line is: In your point of view, do you think that my resident fell and that it requires to be reported?

Thanks! Your replies are greatly appreciated.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

In my facility the policy calls that a fall...Same for rolling out of a low bed onto a mat and being lowered to the floor during a transfer ...

[NYRN05]

it is an incident. so you should have written it up, because the resident did touch the floor. it can get very technical for these things. and although a pain....its just better to do it than to not. i don't think you didn't write it up purposefully, because you felt as if you were there and you were able to prevent it from actually being a unwitnessed fall. and you never know who will say what, so just cover your a** always...its your license girl. the resident sustained no injury as far as we know, so just learn and grow. just explain the situation to the sup, and then maybe they could offer an inservice of what counts as falls, incidence/occurences, so that its clear.

[TonyaM73, ASN, RN]

My DON put it this way: Any resident that has a change in elevation, whether fall, controlled fall etc is an incident report. I have always keep that in mind.

[cebuana_nurse]

I had a similar incident that happened a month ago with a different resident and told the nurse supervisor about it and the incoming nurse. None of them told me to make an IR so I was under the impression that when this happened, it shouldn't be written down. Now, I realize that you don't really learn everything upon orientation. It's a case-to-case basis and everyday I'm learning. Sucks that I have to go through things like this before I learn.

[TonyaM73, ASN, RN]

When you feel that you have learned everything about nursing and there is nothing else to learn.....you need to get out of the profession. :) I asked someone, "when will the time come when I don't learn something (or many somethings) new everyday as a nurse?" They told me that it never happends when you are open to learning.

[cebuana_nurse]

When you feel that you have learned everything about nursing and there is nothing else to learn.....you need to get out of the profession. :) I asked someone, "when will the time come when I don't learn something (or many somethings) new everyday as a nurse?" They told me that it never happends when you are open to learning.

True! But it sucks that we new nurses have to learn the hard way. I just pray to God that I don't do something foolish nor stupid to lose my license. I better get ready to get smacked with paperwork about this 'fall' when I come in to work today.

[pielęgniarka, RN]

I think I've heard the definition of a fall is: any unintentional relocation toward the floor. So whether it's a near miss without injury or an actual fall we do have to count them the same.

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Once the resident is on the floor, it's a fall. Has to be reported and usually only an RN can assess and say ok get them up. At my LTC facility we have to lift with an actual lift when this happens.

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

PS, when in doubt, call the supervisor. Ask questions constantly. Learning never stops.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

If the knees touch the floor (lowered to floor by staff *controlled lowering* or slid to floor or resident just went to knees) is considered a fall at my facility.

If they are in a lower position than they started from, its an incident for us. Of course a transfer done on purpose, transfering resident from chair to bed etc isn't an incident :)

I had one resident who decided it was nap time for her (she was a one assist), she stood up, walked 2 steps to bed and "fell" belly side down onto the bed. She was completly on the bed, face at the headboard side, feet at the foot board, but because she was lying on her belly, it was considered an incident/fall. She (the resident) said she was just too tired to turn her self around and have her butt on the bed and then lie down and it was "more comfy laying on her belly once in a while". It was still considered a "fall" and was an incident. Regardless of the fact that she intended to lie that way.

[cebuana_nurse]

It's amazing that fall is described this way. My hunch is way different than theirs. Lesson learned. Thanks to all that replied! It's greatly appreciated.