Validated Fall Risk Assessments

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Where can I find a validated fall risk assessment tool for an acute psychiatric facility?

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Specializes in Psych, OB.

The hospital I work at is currently using the Heinrich falls assessment tool. The RNs on our psych unit do not feel this tool is appropriate for a psych unit. I would also be open to hearing from others about a good falls risk assessment tool for a psych unit.

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Specializes in OB, ER and Psych.

We use Heindrich as well but agree its not appropriate for acute psych but have not been able to find a replacement. All patients score as a risk for the mere indicator of depression with Heindrich. Please let me know if anyone else has found an alternative

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Acute, Rural Nursing, Travel.

I am not a psych nurse. I work acute care med/surg in a rural hospital. We have gone to computer charting. One of the interventions is fall risk, but we do not have a screening tool for this.

I have found two different screening tools, but have not found the heinrich screening tool.

Any info would be helpful.

thanks

nora

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

These are geriatric fall risk assessment tools from the University of Iowa:

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This seems to be a popular problem right now. I work on pediatric psych unit and need to come up with a more realistic tool but can't seem to find one. I posted a week or so on this topic and got a reply from someone saying they have one but they are unsure if it will apply. If I hear anything more from them I will reply on this thread also. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Psych inpatient, Forensic Nursing,.

I am a Psychiatric RN working at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall Michigan. We have devoloped a psychchiatric fall risk assessment tool. The "WilsonSims" assessment tool. It is easy to use and we belive it was helpfull in cutting the fall rate on our unit by 50%. We are currently working on having it valadated. Interest in use at another hospital inpatient psych unit is welcome. Feel free to contact me for more info.

Steve

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

We use the Heindric too. It says our patients are at risk for falling if they have PRN MoM ordered. >____

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