NR 351 Week 5 Discussion – Using Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Patient Care
Falls are a major concern for older adults in all settings causing significant morbidity and mortality and affecting the quality of life. Seventy per cent of falls for older adults occur in the home. “Over 50% of falls are attributed to environmental hazards, including cords, furniture, loose rugs, ill-fitting shoes, slippery surfaces, and uneven steps; approximately 10% of falls occur on the stairs, usually while descending” (Uiterwyk et al. 2015). CDC reports 25% of older adults 65 years and older fall each year, and 95% of hip fractures result from a fall in older adults. According to the CDC, it is estimated that $50 billion was spent on health costs related to fatal/non-fatal injuries in 2015. Evidence-based practice is frequently used to deal with problematic areas in healthcare. Several reasons for hospital falls were reported, including insufficient patient evaluation, poor communication, and lack of attention to policy and best practices. A comprehensive assessment must be achieved by ensuring a safe hospital atmosphere to reduce the likelihood of patient falls and maximize patient safety. At my workplace, we utilize the Hendrich Model II Fall Risk Tool and write a care plan of the identified risk that will increase patient falls, such as newly altered mobility, medication side effects, history of previous falls, frequent toileting, and altered mental status in all unfamiliar environments.
Safety measures we utilize to reduce the risk of falls were bed alarm on, bed in the lowest position, call light and personal belongings within patient reach, non-skid socks in use when ambulating, gait belt, and appropriate assistive devices in use and response to call light promptly. Healthcare providers should “provide ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the fall prevention plan and document accurate details of a fall or near fall including the time the fall occurred, patient adherence to safety strategies, events that preceded the fall or near fall and staff interventions” (Schub et al.,2018). It is vital to emphasize the importance of fall prevention, educate the patient and family about the intervention, and instruct the patient to alert staff if there are changes in mobility.
NR 351 Week 5 Discussion – Using Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Patient Care
For the research process, I went to the Chamberlain Library home page. I typed prevention falls for the keyword in the search bar, several articles came up, and I picked the Falls prevention plan: Implementing and displaying it in a full PDF file. As a nurse, I am responsible for evaluating patient risk and implementing a care plan using an approved assessment method and utilizing evidence-based practice. Using these techniques decreases the chances of falling and the likelihood of injury and keeps mobility as high as possible. “Proponents of EBP view it as a means to solve clinical practice problems by making the best possible decisions related to care based on client reports, clinician observations, and research data” (Hood, 2018, p.259).
References:
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Important facts about falls. Retrieved May 3, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
Hood, L. J. (2018). Leddy & Peppers Professional Nursing: Core Competencies for Professional Nurses (9th ed). Philadelphia, PA: Wolter Kluwer.
Schub T, BS; Karakashian AL, RN, BSN, (2018). Fall Prevention Plan: Implementing. CINAHL Nursing Guide EBSCO Publishing, (Ipswich, Massachusetts), 2018 May 18. Retrieved from https://eds-a-ebscohost- com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/eds/detail/detail? vid=1&sid=77f1b6b6-ee46-4ae1-b5df-3fee24446c73%40sdc-v- sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d %3d#db=nup&AN=T703871
Uiterwyk, S. H., Curtin, A. J., & Brennan, K. (2018). Falls in the elderly. In F. Ferri (Ed.), 2018 Ferri’s clinical advisor: 5 books in 1 (pp. 480-481). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby
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Question 
NR 351 Week 5 Discussion – Using Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Patient Care
Select a challenging nursing care issue (examples include falls, medication errors, pressure ulcers, and other clinical issues that can be improved by evidence in nursing). Do not select a medical issue (disease, medical treatment). Do not select a workforce issue (staffing, call-offs, nurse-to-patient ratios). Explain the following for the selected clinical issue.