Fall risk assessment and prevention

Oncology (Williston Park). 2011 Feb;25(2 Suppl Nurse Ed):17-22.

Abstract

Patient falls are a common cause of morbidity and are the leading cause of injury deaths in adults age 65 years and older. Injuries sustained as result of falls in a cancer hospital are often severe, regardless of patient age, due to the nature of the underlying cancer. Falls are a nursing-sensitive indicator and nurses are in a unique position to assess, design, implement, and evaluate programs for fall risk reduction. We analyzed our nursing processes related to falls and fall prevention in conjunction with an evidence-based review, a research study to improve our fall risk-assessment process, and development of a comprehensive fall-reduction program. This article outlines how our institution developed a fall risk assessment for the oncology patient population, and utilized this assessment in a comprehensive nursing approach to fall prevention in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

MeSH terms

  • Accident Prevention / methods*
  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Humans
  • Inpatients
  • Male
  • New York
  • Oncology Nursing / methods*
  • Outpatients
  • Pilot Projects
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors