How does your facility minimize fall risk?

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Just looking for ideas. What works, what doesn't?

How does your facility minimize fall risk to patients?

What ideas, implemented or not, do you recommend?

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Well, asking for extra staffing or a sitter won't happen.

Low beds, fall mats beside the beds, no side rails but enablers on the top, concave mattress to the bed, a pressure sensative bed and w/c alarm, keeping the person insight at all times (haha) (one night I had 3 pts with me passing meds) The old...call bell and personal items within reach.

They have self releasing seat belts that sometimes will slow someone down, but they are jokes. Proper positioning when out of bed in a chair helps...wedge cushions in W/c.

Try to track why or when the falls most occur...change of shift, after meals because of toileting needs, etc.

Those are all preventative measures, huh?

The pads on floor and low beds have seemed to cut down on injuries when they do fall (just a pain to have in the room and clean).

I know they talked about the hipsters (padded pants), but I don't see the benefits of them.

Keeping junk away from the bed does help. Seen many a bad laceration from residents falling out of bed and hitting thier head on the trash can or dresser. Ouch.

Making sure the beds lock or chair is up agains the wall and there is proper lighting.

[mcknis]

We do use bed alarms, non skid slipper socks, clutter free rooms, carpet in some hallways, and instruct pts to "call before you fall." Although these implementations do work, they are often not used by some staff members. #1 goal is 100% staff compliance, but it doesn't always happen.

[nursemel374]

We place a colored band on all patients identified at risk, all staff are trained to recognize this. We also place a sign on the door that consists of 2 hands catching a falling star in the same color as the wristband. All staff also know about this. We try to place our patients at highest risk near the station. We do a risk assessment with each shift. We also only do dry mop in the rooms. Housekeeping is also involved. I think it has worked. It has been 3 years since we had a major fall-related injury and our fall rates are below benchmarks.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

1. Fall risk care plans

2. Beds in lowest position

3. Mattress on floor for those who climb out of bed

4. Non-skid socks

5. Instructing the pt. to use call light prior to transfers

6. Staff quickly answering call lights

7. Leaving pt. rooms unobstructed

8. Hallways and dining areas carpeted

9. Non-skid shoes brought in by family members

10. Mobility evaluations from PT and OT departments

11. Bed alarms & chair alarms

12. Staff making their scheduled rounds

[luvmy2angels]

Some facilities around here have been hiring "fall monitors". They simply sit with people (many times in groups) that are at a high risk for falling and keep them occupied and busy. This works well in dementia units. We also use the standard alarms, floor mats etc, but facilities that have actually started using fall monitors have seen a dramatic decrease in falls. Of course the place I work at is too busy adding on a $6 million dollar addition that we cannot afford a fall monitor :angryfire. So much for patient centered care!!

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

We have red wristbands and red non-slip socks for high risk fall patients. Any employee who sees a patient with a red wristband or red socks up in the room or hall is to assist the patient, or if the employee is not a patient care provider, they must immediately alert a patient care provider. We also have little signs outside the pt's door and we utilize bed alarms and chair alarms. We do fall risk assessments on admission, daily and prn. We also educate the patient and family about the importance of following the fall risk guidelines.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

We use yellow wrist bands, red fall socks, yellow check marks on the doors, beds with alarms, Camera's and sitters. The best thing is the sitter

[mcknis]

Forgot...we also have sitters in those high-risk rooms as well as placing LAMP signs outside of the door (Look At Me Please).

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

We use a lot of the previously mentioned things, bed alarms, sitters (usually only if the patient is confused/pulling at lines as well), close to the nursing station, frequent checks/rounding. We also have signs for the pts room that has a big stop sign & says "To keep you safe from falling..STOP and call the nurse." These patients also have magnetic stop signs that say "Fall Risk" outside their room.

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

Duct tape.

[MrsMommaRN]

i think everything that was mentioned here we do.

safety checks q 1 hr

call light in reach

bed in low position

non skid slippers

yellow armband for high fall risks

fall risk screening @ admission and daily if needed

remind patients to ask for help with ambulation and transfers to chairs and beds

personal alarms if needed

bed alarms

that's all i can think of now.