Falls: Clinical Nursing Issue and Evidence Search 

ByDaniel Rossi Updated on

Falls are a critical issue in clinical nursing practice, particularly among older adults and those with chronic diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), falls are the second leading cause of accidental injury-related deaths globally, with around 650,000 deaths annually. The high prevalence of falls in clinical settings makes them a key focus for improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes.

Factors Contributing to Falls

Several risk factors increase the likelihood of falls, especially in older patients:

  • Gait abnormalities: Walking and balance issues significantly raise the risk of falls.
  • Vision impairment: Reduced vision prevents patients from seeing hazards, increasing their fall risk.
  • Medication usage: Medications like sedatives and antihypertensives can cause dizziness, heightening fall risk.
  • Chronic diseases: Conditions like diabetes, arthritis, or cardiovascular disease further weaken patients, making them more prone to falls.

Key Prevention Strategies

An effective fall prevention program requires a comprehensive approach that includes:

  • Patient education: Educating patients about fall risks, the proper use of assistive devices, and safe movement strategies.
  • Safe environment: Removing tripping hazards, improving lighting, and installing safety features such as grab bars.
  • Staff training: Healthcare workers should be trained to identify gait abnormalities, vision impairments, and medication-related fall risks.
  • Family participation: Involving family members in falls prevention to monitor for risks and ensure patient adherence to safety measures.

Fall Prevention Strategies in Elderly Care

Falls pose a significant risk for older adults, especially those with cognitive impairments or those living in nursing homes. A multifactorial approach often yields the best results in preventing falls. Some strategies include:

  • Strength and balance training
  • Home safety improvements
  • Regular vision checks
  • Proper footwear
  • Vitamin D supplementation for deficiency

Risk assessments play a crucial role in identifying vulnerable individuals. Healthcare professionals should conduct thorough evaluations to pinpoint specific risk factors for each person. Additionally, patient education empowers older adults and caregivers with knowledge about fall risks and prevention techniques, significantly reducing fall incidents.

Current Context of Falls in Healthcare

Falls are a significant issue in healthcare, especially in-hospital falls that result in serious injuries like fractures and head trauma. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) classify falls resulting in injury or death as a never event, emphasizing the need for effective fall prevention strategies.

Trends in Fall Prevention

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), fall rates in U.S. hospitals declined by 5% between 2014 and 2017. Despite this progress, falls remain a National Patient Safety Goal for hospitals and long-term care facilities, as highlighted by a Sentinel Event Alert issued by the Joint Commission.

Challenges in Fall Prevention

One key challenge in preventing falls is balancing mobility aids with patient safety. Restricting movement too much can reduce mobility and lead to other complications like delirium. Therefore, effective fall prevention involves managing this tension by promoting safe activity while mitigating risks.

Medication Risks and Family Involvement

The use of psychotropic medications increases fall risks, particularly in older adults. Adjusting medications and focusing on delirium prevention are essential components of a fall prevention strategy. Additionally, family involvement plays a crucial role in monitoring patients and reinforcing fall prevention strategies.

Evidence Retrieval and Summary in Falls Research

The evidence retrieval process is vital for addressing falls in clinical practice. It involves conducting a database search across platforms like PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar to gather relevant research. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are preferred for their higher level of reliability and comprehensive insights.

Methodology for Evidence Retrieval

  • Literature review: Searching for studies on fall prevention, clinical guidelines, and patient safety.
  • Quality assessment: Evaluating the rigor and reliability of the studies based on design, sample size, and methodology.

Data Synthesis and Application in Clinical Guidelines

Once data is synthesized, insights are used to develop clinical guidelines that help healthcare providers implement evidence-based practices for fall prevention.

Implications of Evidence on Fall Prevention

The evidence gathered emphasizes the need for improved clinical nursing practices and patient care strategies:

  • Educational engagement and family involvement: Providing brochures and organizing fall prevention educational sessions can significantly reduce fall risks. Family engagement strengthens care and improves patient outcomes.
  • Multidisciplinary responsibility: Fall prevention requires collaboration among nurses, physicians, and physical therapists.
  • Secondary prevention: Identifying and addressing risk factors after a fall through post-fall reviews can prevent future incidents and improve the quality of life for patients.

Using the PICOT Framework to Address Falls in Healthcare

The PICOT framework helps healthcare professionals develop structured clinical questions that guide evidence-based practice in fall prevention. The framework includes:

  • P (Patient Population): Older adults with a history of falling or syncope.
  • I (Intervention): Structured postfall review and secondary prevention.
  • C (Comparison): Standard care without additional interventions.
  • O (Outcome): Decrease in falls and fall-related complications.
  • T (Time): Six months.

Using PICOT ensures that fall prevention interventions are targeted and measurable.

Prevention Strategies for Falls in Healthcare Settings

Effective fall prevention requires a multi-faceted approach that includes:

  • Individualized plan of care: Tailoring care to each patient’s risk factors and needs using risk assessment tools.
  • Care process interventions: Standardized procedures for fall risk assessment and continence management.
  • Clinical interventions: Minimizing fall-risk medications and managing delirium.
  • Environmental measures: Ensuring a safe physical environment with non-slip floors and proper lighting.
  • Technological interventions: Using bed alarms, wearable sensors, and patient monitoring systems to alert staff of potential falls.
  • Organizational leadership: Strong leadership fosters a safety culture and ensures fall prevention remains a priority.

Common Questions About Fall Prevention in Nursing

What Works to Stop Falls in Older Hospital Patients?

Several strategies help reduce falls for older adults in hospitals, such as regular safety checks of patient rooms and hallways, ensuring proper lighting, especially at night, and using non-slip flooring and handrails in bathrooms. Additionally, using low beds with easy-to-reach call buttons, implementing exercise programs to improve strength and balance, and reviewing and adjusting medications that cause dizziness can significantly decrease fall risks.

How Do Nurse-Led Programs Help Older Patients Avoid Falls?

Nurse-led programs are highly effective in reducing falls. These programs involve educating patients and families about fall risks, conducting fall risk assessments when patients arrive, and creating personalized care plans based on the individual’s risks. Nurses also follow up after falls to prevent future incidents and train other staff on the best fall prevention practices.

What Do Guidelines Say About Stopping Falls in Older Patients?

Guidelines recommend that all patients aged 65 and older should undergo fall risk assessments. Proven tools should be used to identify those at the highest risk, and individualized fall prevention plans should be developed. Healthcare areas should be kept safe with proper lighting and clear pathways, risky medications should be reviewed, and patients and their families should receive education on fall prevention strategies.

How Can Nurses Help Older Adults Avoid Falls at Home?

Nurses play a vital role in home-based fall prevention. They conduct home safety checks to identify and fix hazards, teach patients exercises to improve strength and balance, review medications for side effects that increase fall risks, and recommend safety tools like grab bars or walkers. Nurses also help set up the home for safe and easy movement.

Which Checks Help Identify Patients Most Likely to Fall?

Key checks to identify patients at risk of falling include balance and walking tests, vision and hearing tests, and reviewing all medications. It’s also essential to check for low blood pressure when standing, ask about past falls and fear of falling, and assess leg strength and foot health to determine the risk of future falls.

What Nursing Issues Are Often Linked to a Higher Fall Risk?

Several nursing-related issues increase the risk of falls. These include trouble walking or maintaining balance, weak muscles or bones, side effects from medications, poor vision or hearing, confusion or memory problems, and an urgent need to use the bathroom. Addressing these issues is essential for reducing fall risks.