Falls continue to be one of the most devastating and life-altering occurrences facing older population. Falls are continuous threat to independent living and greatly impact the quality of life for patients and their families. The prevalence of falls is very high. The consequences of falls range from physical injury to psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, fear of falling, and decline in overall balance confidence. These consequences not only lead to activity restriction and avoidance, but contribute to a rise in health care costs. It is time for our profession to start talking about falls.
THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO INITIATE
For the change project, my mentor and I have chosen to discuss one of the topics listed in the Virtual Teaching Hospital. We are going to address the increase in falls on the medical surgical unit. Falls and injuries due to falls is a serious and dangerous problem which can lead to serious injuries, adverse patient outcomes and high costs for hospitals. Falls and resulting injuries due …show more content…
They are among the leading cause of injury related deaths in older adults. Falls also cause a substantial increase in cost due to an increased length of stay. Falls are detrimental to the health and well-being of the patients and are preventable. Falls prevention is imperative in providing the highest quality of care to our patients. As a result, decreasing the incidence of falls in patients in the hospital setting is a vital change that needs to be implemented. As health care providers, it is our foremost responsibility to advocate for our patients and ensure that they are receiving the best care possible. Patient safety is a priority when caring for patients. Our focus needs to be our preventing falls. Improving the quality of care and patient safety is a nursing priority and their primary responsibility. Although fall prevention is a complex process, focused efforts will pay