Student/Instructor Orientation Independent Study

Clinical Information; continued__________________________________________________________FallPrevention forthe AdultPatient,continuedINTERVENTIONS for Standard Fall Precautions:NOTE: This applies to ALL adult patients admitted to the hospital.1. Place the call light and any personal items, including urinal or bedsidecommode, within reach.2. Use side rails, both upper or both upper and one lower, as needed.3. Place the bed in the lowest position and make sure wheels are locked.4. Encourage the patient to wear non-skid socks or rubber soled shoes.5. Encourage the patient to wear his/her prescription glasses and hearingaids as much as possible while awake.6. Remove clutter from the floors and room. Maintain a clear path to thebathroom and room door.7. Provide assistive devices to steady gait. Ask the family to bring in thepatient’s own assistive device(s).8. Monitor gait, balance and fatigue level with ambulation. Monitorlevel of alertness and cognition.9. Use proper technique to transfer the patient to and from a wheelchair,bed or toilet. Lock the wheels on wheelchairs and recliners.10. Collaborate with other health care team members to minimize sideeffects of medications that contribute to falling.11. Ensure adequate lighting. Consider use of a night light.12. Ask the patient to call for assistance after receiving sedatives ornarcotics.13. Instruct the patient to sit on the side of the bed a few moments beforeslowly standing. Do not proceed if the patient is dizzy or lightheaded.14. Explain to the patient and family about the need for precautions.15. Provide the patient and family with a “Tips to Avoid a Fall” handout.INTERVENTIONS for High Risk Fall Precautions:NOTE: This applies to any patient with a score greater than or equal to55 on the Morse Risk Assessment Tool.1. Maintain Standard Fall Precautions interventions as above.2. Place a “Falling Star” sign on the patient’s room door. Exception: Atthe Behavioral Health Center (BHC), an orange armband will beplaced on the patient.3. If applicable, mark on the yellow “Patient Alerts” sticker that is to beplaced on the inside covers of the patient’s chart that he/she is on HighRisk Fall Precautions. This sticker is then to be checked each nightduring the 24 hour chart checks to make sure it is correctly marked.__________________________________________________________Continued on Next Page40 Revised 08-2009C:\Documents and Settings\Tracey\Desktop\downloads\Student Orientation Independent Study 08.09.doc