I have 4 out of my 24 that are constant fall risks. The one that I'm looking for tips on, sleeps most of the day but is up all night with us (3-11) She's in a broda chair and can self propel by shuffling her feet. We are sometimes able to ambulate her with a 3 person assist, she can handle about 50 feet, but lately that doesn't tire her out. And we can't consistently do this as I only have 2 aides and I'm on a skilled unit, these folks are intermixed with the ones w/more needs.
What we've always done is no longer working. First she is getting into things/other rooms at the beginning of the shift and she can pull up on the hand rails in the halls. After dinner we usually put her behind the gate at the nurses station. She has always "pulled up" on this, up and down and back in her chair. (wheels locked)
In addition to her needing to go to the nurses station after dinner, we have to sometimes put her there before dinner as I mentioned she's started to get into things, back bathroom, ending up on the floor etc....
The problem is she's gotten so strong she can pick up the locked broda and move it! Before she couldn't do that, this repostions herself away from the gate and gives her open space in front and at that point she can end up on the ground. She never really "falls" she more or less slides and ends up on her butt, but that's still classed a fall and all the paperwork that goes with it.
If we let her self propel, she'll end up on the ground as she scoots. Plus she can manuever herself from the broda to one of the tv area chairs, there's no one in there to watch her.
Any ideas? This is a big source of stress for me keeping track of the fall risks. I was told that "if they fall, they fall"...aside from not liking that rationalization, the paperwork requires us to come up with a plan so it doesn't happen Of course they don't want to hear more staff to supervise or anything that would remotely help. We already have a body alarm on her. She falls about once a week.
Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.
I guess you don't have any recreation assistant on the 3-11 shift? At the facility where I work, we are fortunate to have one (albeit part-time), and she is a God send..keeps the residents busy until 8pm. Then she says goodnight.....
Of course they don't want to hear more staff to supervise or anything that would remotely help. We already have a body alarm on her. She falls about once a week.
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
I have one resident for whom I want this to play whenever someone passes her room:
Burlesque & Classic Striptease Music