Capella FPX 4035 Assessment 4
Student Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX4035 Enhancing Patient Safety and Quality of Care
Prof. Name
Date
Improvement Plan Tool Kit
Healthcare providers, particularly nurses, can apply this fall prevention toolkit to implement and sustain evidence-based safety initiatives aimed at minimizing patient falls in hospital settings. This toolkit comprises selected academic and clinical sources that introduce effective strategies, risk assessment tools, educational interventions for patients, and technological advancements. Each tool is detailed with its practical use, applicability in real-world clinical environments, and guidance for implementation. Through consistent use of these resources, nurses can enhance care quality and ensure better patient safety outcomes. The selection of tools in this toolkit was informed by focused keywords, including “fall prevention,” “patient safety,” “risk assessment,” “root cause analysis,” and “evidence-based nursing practice.”
Organizational Safety and Fall Prevention Best Practices
Garcia et al. (2021) explored the perceptions of nurses toward different fall prevention techniques to evaluate their feasibility and effectiveness. Their findings suggest that multifaceted interventions combining patient education with environmental changes are most favored. Despite being efficient, these interventions face obstacles such as time constraints, limited patient engagement, and insufficient organizational support. This study aids nurse leaders in designing fall prevention training aligned with on-the-ground clinical practice.
Similarly, Linnerud et al. (2023) described a collaborative, co-creation process involving stakeholders to devise fall prevention strategies in Norwegian home care. Their research emphasized the importance of adapting strategies to local needs and encouraging active nurse involvement. The resource offers guidance for initiating stakeholder workshops and tailoring prevention strategies for home-care populations.
Mulfiyanti and Satriana (2022) examined how the SBAR communication model supports effective handovers among nursing staff, reducing the likelihood of errors that may lead to patient falls. SBAR’s structured framework promotes accuracy in shift changes and is particularly vital in acute settings where timely decisions are essential.
Organizational Safety and Fall Prevention Best Practices – Summary Table
| Author(s) | Key Focus | Application in Practice | Implementation Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garcia et al. (2021) | Nurse perceptions of fall strategies | Integrate into planning & training | Planning, staff education |
| Linnerud et al. (2023) | Stakeholder-led strategy development | Customize fall prevention in home care | Initial strategy design |
| Mulfiyanti & Satriana (2022) | SBAR communication and patient safety | Use during handovers and urgent care | Shift changes, reporting |
Environmental Risk Reduction and Safety Assessments
Campani et al. (2021) discussed strategies to identify and modify home environments that pose fall risks for older adults. Their work underlines the necessity for trained professionals to evaluate settings for trip hazards, poor lighting, and lack of support equipment. Community and hospital nurses can use these findings to educate caregivers and conduct environmental safety evaluations.
Locklear et al. (2024) provided a comprehensive review of inpatient fall epidemiology and effective risk assessments like the Morse Fall Scale. Their findings underscore the importance of multidisciplinary practices, such as routine rounding and assistive devices. Their study also reveals the cost-effectiveness of structured fall prevention programs, highlighting their economic and clinical value.
Stathopoulos et al. (2021) explored how overcrowded hospital environments contribute to fall incidents. They found that limited space and overworked staff significantly elevate fall risks. This resource supports nurse managers and hospital administrators in advocating for changes in staffing policies and facility layout to improve safety outcomes.
Environmental Risk and Safety – Summary Table
| Author(s) | Focus Area | Key Contribution | Clinical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campani et al. (2021) | Home hazard assessment | Teaches home-safety evaluations | Discharge planning, community nursing |
| Locklear et al. (2024) | Inpatient fall risk tools | Cost-saving and risk-scoring systems | Admission & continuous care |
| Stathopoulos et al. (2021) | Overcrowding impact | Environmental hazard identification | Facility planning, QI reporting |
Staff Education and Patient-Centered Care Strategies
Albertini et al. (2022) implemented a person-centered model to prevent falls in a Brazilian hospital. Their approach emphasized staff education and individualized care plans, resulting in improved adherence to fall prevention protocols—from 62% to 92%. Nurses were trained to tailor interventions based on patient mobility or medication-related risks, which led to a 30% fall reduction.
Heng et al. (2020) conducted a scoping review on patient education as a strategy for fall prevention. They found that videos, pamphlets, and one-on-one counseling were effective tools for fostering safe behaviors in patients. These educational methods are particularly crucial when patients are unaccompanied, a common circumstance in fall incidents.
Staff Education and Patient-Centered Care – Summary Table
| Author(s) | Educational Strategy | Outcome | Clinical Integration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albertini et al. (2022) | Person-centered care | Fall rate reduction by 30% | Staff training, QI programs |
| Heng et al. (2020) | Patient education tools | Behavior change, injury reduction | Bedside teaching, discharge education |
References
Albertini, A. C. da S., Fernandes, R. P., Püschel, V. A. de A., & Maia, F. de O. M. (2022). Person-centered care approach to prevention and management of falls among adults and aged in a Brazilian hospital: A best practice implementation project. JBI Evidence Implementation, 21(1), 14–24. https://doi.org/10.1097/xeb.0000000000000356
Campani, D., Caristia, S., Amariglio, A., Piscone, S., Ferrara, L. I., Barisone, M., … Obbia, P. (2021). Home and environmental hazards modification for fall prevention among the elderly. Public Health Nursing, 38(3), 493–501. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12852
Garcia, A., Bjarnadottir, R. (Raga) I., Keenan, G. M., & Macieira, T. G. R. (2021). Nurses’ perceptions of recommended fall prevention strategies. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. https://doi.org/10.1097/ncq.0000000000000605
Heng, H., Jazayeri, D., Shaw, L., Kiegaldie, D., Hill, A.-M., & Morris, M. E. (2020). Hospital falls prevention with patient education: A scoping review. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01515-w
Linnerud, S., Aimée, L., Graverholt, B., Idland, G., Taraldsen, K., & Brovold, T. (2023). Stakeholder development of an implementation strategy for fall prevention in Norwegian home care – a qualitative co-creation approach. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10394-x
Capella FPX 4035 Assessment 4
Locklear, T., Kontos, J., Brock, C. A., Holland, A. B., Hemsath, R., Deal, A., … Biswas, S. (2024). In-patient falls: Epidemiology, risk assessment, and prevention measures. A narrative review. HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine, 5(5). https://doi.org/10.36518/2689-0216.1982
Mulfiyanti, D., & Satriana, A. (2022). The correlation between the use of the SBAR effective communication method and the handover implementation of nurses on patient safety. International Journal of Public Health Excellence (IJPHE), 2(1), 376–380. https://doi.org/10.55299/ijphe.v2i1.275
Stathopoulos, D., Hansson, E. E., & Stigmar, K. (2021). Exploring the environment behind in-patient falls and their relation to hospital overcrowdedness—a register-based observational study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10742. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010742