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Inside scoop from our experts: Fall prevention

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, October 8, 2010

This week’s question about fall prevention comes from a discussion on JourneyTalk. Rajanee Singh RN, BC,BSN,MA, director of professional practice at Jupiter Medical Center provides some feedback.

Q: Would anyone be willing to share some tips on fall prevention that have been implemented at their facility?

A: We have used the following:

• Everyday the director has a parade of sharing with staff how many days without a fall.
• We complete a post fall patient safety huddle after each fall with staff and supervisor and charge nurse
• Every month our falls are drilled down to age, gender, assisted/unassisted, injury level, fall risk protocol, restraints, time of fall, date of fall, room number to see which rooms were they code to the nurse station, fall risk score, fall alarm, sleepers involved. We trended certain sleepers and removed some sleepers from our standing orders. Medications that were a first time dose were also a cause. We also look at mental status, census at time of fall , staffing for RNs and CNAs.
• We recently placed a fall mat in each room for easy access for staff since we trended our at risk patients did not necessarily have a fall alarm.
• Our clinical practice and research councils reviewed and education was provided again to all staff.
• Each unit without falls for the month receive a lifesaver cake for all staff. We have seen improvements and I am waiting for our final numbers as we changed from calendar year to fiscal year.

Editor's note: On JourneyTalk you can network with your peers, discuss the new manual, share your helpful tips, and get advice on how to meet the program's expectations. Become a member of JourneyTalk when you subscribe to HCPro's Resource Center for the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®.

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