Fall risk assessment and prevention.
Patient falls are a common cause of morbidity and are the leading cause of injury deaths in adults age 65 years and older. Injuries sustained as result of falls in a cancer hospital are often severe, regardless of patient age, due to the nature of the underlying cancer. Falls are a nursing-sensitive indicator and nurses are in a unique position to assess, design, implement, and evaluate programs for fall risk reduction. We analyzed our nursing processes related to falls and fall prevention in conjunction with an evidence-based review, a research study to improve our fall risk-assessment process, and development of a comprehensive fall-reduction program. This article outlines how our institution developed a fall risk assessment for the oncology patient population, and utilized this assessment in a comprehensive nursing approach to fall prevention in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Nancy E
NE
Kline
Mary Elizabeth
ME
Davis
Bridgette
B
Thom
D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010045:Outpatients; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors