Revised 2005
The purpose of this guideline is to increase all nurses’ confidence, knowledge, skills and abilities in the identification of adults within health care facilities at risk of falling and to define interventions for the prevention of falling. It does not include interventions for the prevention of falls and fall injuries in older adults living in community settings. The guideline has relevance to areas of clinical practice including acute care and long-term care, and will assist nurses to apply the best available research evidence to clinical decisions, and to promote the responsible use of health care resources.

Implementation Tools

Falls Prevention: Building the Foundations for Patient Safety, A Self-Learning Package

A self-learning package to support implementation of this guideline. Upon completion of this program, the learner will be able to:

• Recognize the risk factors associated with patient falls.
•  Discuss the incidence and morbidity of falls occurring in hospitals.
•  Inspect patient care areas to identify and remove extrinsic hazards that may lead to patient falls.
• Defi ne the components of a comprehensive fall management plan.
• Evaluate the need for patient supports, grab bars, and other fall prevention devices to provide a safe patient environment.
  

Download Falls Prevention: Building the Foundations for Patient Safety, A Self-Learning Package [PDF 271.43 KB]

Fall Prevention - Valleyview Home for the Aged

This implementation tool highlights how organizations that pilot tested a guideline, adding their own experience and insight to enrich our knowledge of each topic. Disclaimer

• Fall Prevention - Valleyview Home for the Aged [PPT - 574 KB]
  

• Discusses the most common causes of falls in the geriatric patient.
• Provides an individualized assessment to identify patients at risk.
• Explores a variety of effective interventions which can be used in caring for high-risk patients.
• Focuses on alternatives to physical and chemical restraints, including environmental adaptations and reconditioning.

Contact Geriatric Video Productions at http://www.geriatricvideo.com/ for more information.

Development Panel Members - 2005
Kathleen Heslin, RN, BScN, MScN - Team Leader
Nancy Berdusco, RPN
Laurie Bernick, RN, MScN, ACNP, GNC (C)
Lucy Cabico, RN, MS, ACNP, FNP, GNC(C)
Diane Carter, RN
Sharon Mooney, RN, BA, MA, BSN
Mireille Norris, BScPT, MD, FRCP(C) CSPQ, ABIM, MHSc
Tim Pauley, PhD(C)
Jane M. Schouten, RN, BScN, MBA
Sandra Tully, RN, BScN, MA(Ed), ACNP, GNC(C)

Development Panel Members - 2000
Kathleen Heslin, RN, BScN, MScN - Team Leader
Nancy Berdusco, RPN
Laurie Bernick, RN, MScN, ACNP, GNC (C)
Diane Carter, RN
Nancy Edwards, RN, PhD
Clara Fitzgerald, B.P.H.E, BEd

Implementation Pilot Site
Valleyview Home for the Aged, St. Thomas

Purchase:

• Hardcopy edition of this guideline