Date of Graduation

Fall 12-15-2017

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

First Advisor

Margaret Levine, DNP, RN, CNL, CNS

Abstract

Abstract

A multi-prong falls awareness program to reduce the occurrence of falls in a skilled nursing unit

Keywords: Fall awareness program, skilled nursing unit, fall rate

The project goal was to reduce the patient fall rate by 20% by implementing a fall awareness program for clinical staff. The program had two prongs and began with a pre-survey to determine current fall prevention knowledge. The staff was encouraged to participate in the training by providing risk factors that contribute to falls and simple strategies to prevent falls based on their knowledge of the patients (Boushon et al, 2012). A post-survey was given after the training. The second prong was the application of colored identifiers outside the patient rooms to give visual cues to staff on who is at highest risk for falls. The post-survey revealed an increase from 50% to 96% of staff understanding of the fall prevention program using a Likert scale survey. Within one month of implementing the fall awareness program, the fall rate decreased by 13% to a rate of 8.27 per 1000 patient days. The census averages 32 patients per day and consists of long-term care, acute rehabilitation and palliative care patients There will continue to be further education for clinical staff on fall prevention and an expected decrease in patient falls.

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