What measures do we implement for preventing falls?

THIS ARTICLE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT

• Risk of falls for inpatients in hospitals
• The increase of risk of falls in people on alcohol detox programmes
• One ward sister’s strategy to engage her staff and improve awareness
• Solutions to preventing falls

YOU WOULD BE LIKELY TO REFERENCE THIS ARTICLE IF YOU WERE RESEARCHING:

• Falls incidence
• Risk of falls
• Alcohol detox
• Falls prevention

IN WHAT SITUATIONS WILL THIS ARTICLE BE USEFUL TO ME?

This article will be useful to help you appreciate the complexity of falls prevention and the need to consider all risk factors when assessing patients for their risk of falls when admitted to the hospital.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MENTOR/TUTOR

• How prevalent are falls in our workplace?
• Are there any risk factors specific to our setting?
• What measures do we implement for preventing falls?

STUDENT NT DECODER

• Gastrointestinal: Relating to the stomach and small and large intestines
• Alcohol detox: This is a withdrawal from alcohol, which produces symptoms in those addicted to alcohol.  
• Alcohol dependence: An overwhelming physical desire to consume alcohol beyond our capacity to control it. Those who are alcohol dependent  often have a high tolerance for alcohol.

OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL

• Creating a protocol to reduce inpatient falls
• A multifactorial approach to falls prevention
• Developing an evidence-based approach to falls-risk assessment
• Falls risk prediction tools for hospital inpatients: do they work?
• Falls Prevention and Management