Problem Presentation
For the specific problem, the focus on improvement in the medical facility environment was selected. Notably, as the primary issue for the discussion, improving the patient’s safety through fall prevention was chosen. The study’s population sample consists of adults aged 18 to 64 and older. Consequently, the search for resources and materials focused on the peculiarities of this group. To prevent patient falls and improve the clinical environment, one should pay close attention to details and equipment that help patients maintain balance.
Settings
The hospital environment is considered the setting for the studied intervention. Notably, this environment contains many things that can cause falls (Manlapaz et al., 2020). Nurses should be aware of these issues and practice placing the objects to provide a safe treatment setting (LeLaurin & Shorr, 2019).
Particular attention was paid to medical equipment and instruments that will be vital for patients to prevent falls (Murray, 2021). Among them are non-barrier room layouts and comfortable furniture with specific attributes to maintain patient balance (Hart et al., 2020). In addition, there should be supportive things such as crutches, strollers, and canes.
Causes
When describing patient falls, it is essential to identify potential causes. For example, according to Sherrington et al. (2021), “numerous studies have identified patient risk factors for falls, including older age, history of falls, impaired mobility, cognitive impairment, male gender, stroke…” (p. 397). Therefore, it is essential to state that, for a thorough study of the problem and to find improved solutions, it is crucial to consider patients’ age (Singh et al., 2020). Among possible methods to identify potential fall risk, current techniques involve screening patients and creating fall ratings based on the obtained data (Bet et al., 2019). These approaches are essential for addressing fall risks.
Effects
The effects of the patient fall issue vary significantly. Remarkably, these problems cause both direct and indirect harm to the person. First, falls can cause new injuries and traumas that can worsen the patient’s health and impose significant hardships. Second, this situation will lead to prolonged hospitalization (LeLaurin & Shorr, 2019). This indirect effect means fewer places will be available for other patients (Castle, 2019). Consequently, the entire healthcare system will struggle with patient falls problems.
Impacts on Nursing
The above-mentioned drawbacks highlight the significance of the topic for the entire nursing practice. Specifically, without proper attention to this issue, the nursing profession can experience extreme hardships. For example, nurses can experience burnout and lose motivation due to extended work hours and additional workloads (Heng et al., 2020). The patient will add additional tasks to their schedule (Fadem, 2023). However, proper maintenance of the patient falls issue will be essential to improvements in nursing. This management will create better conditions for providing patients with effective treatment while avoiding additional adverse effects in clinical settings.
Potential Solution
The most effective way to improve the situation with patients’ falls is to pay extreme attention to the details (Murray, 2021). It means that the proper investigation of the medical facility should be established. For example, items such as dry surfaces, grab bars, wrinkle-free carpets, night lights, walking sticks, and other essential items should be provided in the hospital (Dwolatzky, 2023). In addition, the nurse should explore the space for potential hazards (Woolford et al., 2020). It will allow patients to get constant support while experiencing misbalancing.
References
Bet, P., Castro, P., & Ponti, M. (2019). Fall detection and fall risk assessment in older person using wearable sensors: A systematic review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 130.
Castle, S. (2019). Falls prevention, an issue of clinics in geriatric medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Dwolatzky, T. (2023). Falls in older adults: Prevention and risk evaluation. Frontiers Media SA.
Fadem, S. (2023). Understanding and preventing falls: A guide to reducing your risks. Springer International Publishing.
Hart, L., Phelan, E., Yi, J., Marcum, Z., Gray, S. (2020). Use of Fall Risk–Increasing Drugs Around a Fall-Related Injury in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. AGS, 68(6), 1334-1343.
Heng, H., Jazayeri, D., Shaw, L., Kiegaldie, D., Hill, A., & Morris, M. (2020). Hospital falls prevention with patient education: a scoping review. BMC Geriatr, 20(140).
LeLaurin, J., & Shorr, R. (2019). Preventing Falls in Hospitalized Patients: State of the Science. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 35(2).
Manlapaz, D., Sole, G., Jayakaran, P., Chapple, C. (2019). Risk Factors for Falls in Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. PM&R, 11(7).
Murray, E. (2021). Nursing leadership and management for patient safety and quality care. F.A. Davis.
Sherrington, C., Lord, S., & Naganathan, V. (2021). Falls in older people: Risk factors, strategies for prevention and implications for practice. Cambridge University Press.
Singh, A., Rehman, S. Yongchareon, S., & Chong, P. (2020). Sensor Technologies for Fall Detection Systems: A Review. IEEE Sensors Journal, 20(13).
Woolford, S., Sohan, O., Dennison, E., Cooper, C., & Patel, H. (2020). Approaches to the diagnosis and prevention of frailty. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 32, 1629-1637.