![]() ![]() The low rate of falls in the evening could be due to increased visitors, who prevent the patient from trying to ambulate or go to the bathroom. The occurrence of falls in the evening and night shifts increased from 39% in 2007 to 57% in 2008 and 64% in 2009. The incidence of falls was highest in the morning, followed by the night shift (2400 to 0800 hours), and was lowest during the evening shift (1600 to 2400 hours). 6 Increased comorbidities and other medical conditions, such as orthostatic hypotension or muscle weakness due to physiologic changes, predispose patients to falling. 5 Who's at risk, and when?Ībreu's 3-year study found that the mean age range for patients who fell was 64 to 75 years. Because the stakes are so high, hospitals, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are challenged to ensure that an effective fall prevention program is in place to prevent hospital falls. 4 Falls associated with serious injuries are among the top 10 reported sentinel events in the TJC sentinel event database. Since 2009, The Joint Commission (TJC) sentinel event database received 465 fall-related reports of injuries that happened mostly in hospitals. 2 Hospitals now absorb the extra medical costs of patient injuries sustained in falls, which are considered preventable or “never” events. 1 As of 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services no longer reimburse any hospital-acquired conditions that lengthen hospital stay. Patient falls not only increase patient length of stay and healthcare costs but may also trigger lawsuits resulting in settlements of millions of dollars due to patient injury. This article discusses practical, evidence-based interventions that nurses can implement for fall prevention. ![]() Nurses' education and a fall prevention program are both crucial to preventing falls. Fall prevention requires a multidisciplinary approach to create a safe patient environment and reduce injuries related to falling. ![]() FALLS, A MAJOR safety concern for hospitalized patients, increase length of stay, reduce quality of life, and are costly to patients and hospitals alike. ![]()
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