1
Running Head: Issue in the Clinical Environment
Issue in the clinical Environment
Grand Canyon University: NRS 441V
July 21st, 2013
Issue in the Clinical Environment
There are numerous problems and issues that can be found in the clinical environment. In hospitals, a major concern is falling of inpatients. This becomes a more serious issue when dealing with older adults and those at risk for falls.Few opportunities for suggestion and discussion of falls in hospitalized patients also exist. This paper will discuss falls in inpatient, in addition to suggesting a proposal to address the problem.
Setting
Patients' falls can be observed at the actual clinical setting [A1]such as a hospital, nursing
homes or other health care facilities. Nurses in these setting are the primary caregivers of patients and therefore must see to their safety. All these settings employ the use of call light or call bell to alert the nurse of the patients' needs.
Description of the Problem
A fall has been defined as an unplanned drop from a lying , sitting or standing position (Ruderman & Tosone, 2013). It can be witnessed or unwitnessed and can be with or without injuries.. Any patient found on the floor, should be termed as a fall. Various reasons exist while patients fall in the hospitals but Tzeng (2010) has noted that 56% of fall injuries occurred while the patient was getting in or out of bed.
Impact of the Problem
Inpatient falls contribute immensely to hospital injuries and complications[A2], thereby leading to longer hospitalizations. The Joint Commission (TJC) has emphasized the need to reduce the risk of patient injuries from falls due to their high prevalence and associated adverse outcomes in at-risk patient populations (JC, 2005). Furthermore, hospitals will no longer be reimbursed for injuries due to falls.
Gravity of the Problem
The American Nurses Association's Magnet Recognition program includes falls as one of the core indicators of performance. Hospitals have devoted quality improvement and research efforts to prevent falls, but patient fall nonetheless consistently compose the largest single category of self-reported incidents in acute care facilities (JC, 2005). Patient fall is also perceived as one of the nursing quality indicator that can be most improved through nursing strategy. In effect, nurses assume responsibilities for their patients and therefore are accountable and liable when a patient falls under [A3]their care. Hence, it's significance to nursing.
Proposed Solution
While various reasons contribute to falls, one proposed solution to minimize this problem is hourly rounds on in patients. Hourly rounds have shown to be very effective in decreasing patient falls. Hourly rounds basically [A4]address the 4 Ps- pain, potty, position and periphery. With hourly rounds, nurses anticipate patient needs and address them on time before accidents happen. Thus, reducing the use of call lights and decreasing fall rates. Overall, patient safety will be improved leading to increased patient satisfaction.
Conclusion
Falls in hospitalized patients is one of the major issue in the clinical environment that is affecting the growth as well as reputation of the organization directly. TJC has emphasized the need to decrease falls in inpatient.This problem can be removed by implementing hourly rounds on in patients.
References:
Joint Commission. (2005). Defining the problem of falls. In I.J. Smith (Ed.), Reducing the risk of falls in your health care organization (pp. 13-27). Oakbrook Terrace, IL: The Joint Com mission on Accreditation of Health care Organizations, as cited in Tzeng (2008)
Ruderman, E.B. & Tosone, C. (2013). Contemporary Clinical Practice: The Holding Environment Under Assault. USA: Springer.
Tzeng, H. (2010). Nursing staff’s awareness of keeping beds in the lowest position to prevent falls and fall injuries in an adult acute surgical inpatient care setting. Medsurg Nursing Research.
[A1]good
[A2]good
[A3]good
[A4]good