title: Designing a postepidural fall risk assessment score for the obstetric patient.
abstract: The effects of an epidural combined with the need for early ambulation in the postpartum patient create a high risk for falls. We developed a standardized assessment score, based on 8 areas of assessment, to evaluate the fall risk of a postepidural patient. This score was developed using 2 other assessment tools, as well as considering the unique issues associated with the post-epidural patient. The scoring system is user-friendly and applicable to the labor and delivery setting.
authors.affiliation: Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington 98344, USA. frankbj@plu.edu
authors.forename: Brenda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hokanson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data