Nursing Care Plan For Falls Risk

Falls are a common problem for the elderly and often lead to injury and death. Falls can be prevented when nursing care plans are developed and implemented by multidisciplinary teams. The goal of this plan is to prevent falls, minimize complications, and reduce mortality in patients at risk for falling.

Nursing Care Plan For Falls Risk

1 Multidisciplinary teamwork.

• Multidisciplinary team. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of healthcare providers that work together to ensure the best possible patient outcomes. The MDT may include physicians, nurses, physical therapists, social workers and other allied health professionals.
• Team members. Much like in sports teams or any other organization where teamwork is required, the members of an MDT need to be able to communicate effectively with one another. They also need to have respect for each other’s expertise and experience in order for them to collaborate effectively towards achieving their goals as a team unit.
• Team meetings: In order for MDTs to function properly, it is important that all members meet regularly so as not only discuss what has happened since their last meeting but also ensure that everyone involved has been fully informed about each patient’s progress – whether positive or negative – since their last visit from a member of the MDT at least once every two weeks if not sooner depending on how quickly certain conditions may worsen which could warrant additional medical intervention by either those working outside privately held practices such as nursing homes which often employ retired individuals who live nearby with experience caring for others around town before retiring themselves due

2 Individualized fall prevention plan.

The individualized fall prevention plan should be based on the patient’s needs and reviewed with the patient, their family members, and/or caregivers. The nurse can use a checklist to determine what is needed for the patient’s safety in the home:

• Is there adequate lighting?
• Are rugs placed at least 6 inches from edges of walls or furniture?
• Do you need to move furniture around so that it doesn’t block pathways?

3 Medication management.

Medication management.

• Medications that can increase the risk of falls:
• Anticholinergic drugs such as antihistamines, antiparkinsonian agents, antidepressants, antiemetics, antispasmodics or atropine are all medications that have been shown to increase the risk of falls by impairing balance and gait. The use of these medications should be minimized or discontinued altogether if possible since they have no proven benefit for patients who are not actively experiencing symptoms from their conditions (e.g., depression).
• Medications that can reduce the risk of falls:
• Beta blockers such as propranolol and metoprolol have been shown to reduce fall rates in older adults with heart disease because they slow down heart rate and lower blood pressure slightly which improves stability during movement. These drugs may also be useful in reducing tremor associated with Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor

4 Home safety evaluation and home modification.

The patient’s home environment and ability to perform activities must be assessed in order to determine if modifications are needed. This assessment should include:

• The patient’s cognitive status, such as memory function and judgment.
• The patient’s instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as meal preparation and personal hygiene.
• Environmental factors that may affect the patient’s safety or ability to perform ADLs or IADLs safely, such as stairs, uneven surfaces or slippery floors.

If the increased risk for falls is due to an underlying medical condition that causes decreased strength or balance, then it is important that you consult with the primary care physician before implementing any interventions/therapies for this risk factor as they may have more effective methods for addressing this issue than nursing interventions alone

5 Visual assessment and management.

Visual assessment and management:

• Visual assessment of the patient includes:
• General appearance, skin color, temperature, moisture of skin (sweaty or dry) and pallor.
• Visual assessment of the environment includes:
• Light intensity in the room (daylight or artificial light).
• Visual assessment of the patient’s surroundings includes:
• Furniture arrangement in relation to activities performed by each patient (elderly with limited mobility or visual acuity may need their bedside tables within their reach rather than placed against a wall if it is difficult for them to turn toward them).

6 Patient and family education.

Before you begin to teach a patient or family about safe falls, it is important to assess the patient’s level of understanding. If a patient does not understand basic concepts such as the difference between “falling” and “sliding,” he or she may be unable to practice fall prevention strategies effectively. Before teaching patients and families about safe falls, consider asking them questions on what they already know about falls risk factors and prevention strategies. This will help you determine whether they are ready for more detailed education before beginning your presentation.

As you begin your presentation, start with an introduction to the topic: why it is important; how it relates to their condition/illness; what they can do differently going forward in order to reduce their risk of falling (e.g., using assistive devices like walkers). Next explain why some people are at higher risk than others (e.g., older adults) and identify specific environments where falls are more likely to occur (e.g., bathroom).

7 The plan for falls risk is developed and implemented

The plan for falls risk is developed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team. The nursing staff implements the plan with the help of family members and other care providers.

The goal of the plan is to prevent falls, minimize injury from a fall, and reduce any negative consequences associated with falling. Falls may cause serious injuries and can lead to hospitalization or death if they are not treated appropriately or if follow-up care is not provided in the appropriate setting.

The nursing staff develops a complete assessment of each patient’s needs before starting an individualized intervention program to prevent falls that includes education, interventions, and referrals for further evaluation or treatment when needed (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2014).

Closing

The nursing care plan for falls risk is an important part of the patient’s care. If a fall risk assessment is not performed, then there will be no plan to manage the patient’s condition. The nurse has many responsibilities with this type of assessment because they need to collect information from family members, other medical professionals, and patients themselves. After all of this information has been gathered together it will be reviewed by a healthcare team consisting of nurses in order to create an individualized fall prevention plan based on each person’s needs