Date on Paper

8-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Paper

Degree Name

D.N.P.

Department

Nursing

Committee Chair

Williams-Coleman, Beverly

Committee Member

Riff, Diane

Author's Keywords

inpatient falls; fall prevention; fall prevention interventions; education; fall risk factors

Abstract

Background: Inpatient falls are harmful to patients and to the healthcare organization. Fall prevention interventions and strategies are necessary in the acute setting to reduce the number of falls and increase patient safety.

Environment: This quality improvement project will take place at a Midwest acute care hospital on a cardiac PCU. This is a 38-bed unit where there has been an increased number of patient falls.

Purpose: The John Hopkins Evidence Based Practice Model was used to design, implement, and assess a nurse-driven, bedside, visual tool to reduce the number of inpatient falls on a cardiac progressive care unit.

Methods: The PFPVT was created and modeled after the John Hopkins Falls Assessment Tool. Nursing staff received fall prevention education and completed pre- and post-tests to evaluate knowledge and confidence. Nursing staff documented on the PFPVT once a shift, on admission, and with any changes to the patient’s fall risk. Weekly audits were completed to ensure compliance with PFPVT. Descriptive statistics were used to collect all data.

Results: The mean score of the falls education pre-test went from 93.1% (n=36) to a mean score of 97.7% (n=32) on the falls education post-test. Overall compliance with the PFPVT was 74.7%. There was a decrease in falls from the pre-intervention period (n=7) to the post-intervention period (n=3).

Discussion: There was an overall increase in fall prevention knowledge and confidence, and a decrease in the number of inpatient falls. With some minor updates, the PFPVT should be continued in use.

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