How Can Nurses Prevent Slips, Trips And Falls In Adult Inpatients?

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.



Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of the role of nurses in prevention of slips, trips and falls among inpatients in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on the medical incidents caused to inpatient and its relation with the role of nurses in reducing these incidents. The research also analyses many types of incidents in hospitals and tries to gauge its effect on the patients. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for the slips, trips and falls among inpatients in UK and tries to describe the role nurses can play in preventing these incidents. Systematic review of 20 articles on the basis of recency and relevancy are selected. Articles published within since 2000 were selected relating to the subject are of the study. Furthermore, articles from UK are selected for the systematic review. The review shows the significance of the role of nurses in the prevention of slip, trip and fall among inpatients. Furthermore, the literature also discusses the current practices in the United Kingdom healthcare setting regarding the prevention of patients' accidents. The strengths and weakness of the literature are highlighted, followed by the recommendations for future practice.

Table of Contents

ABSTRACTIII

INTRODUCTION1

FOCUS QUESTION AND RATIONALE2

METHODOLOGY6

Search Strategy7

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria8

Data collection procedure9

Critical Appraisal - Article9

Literature Sources10

PRESENTATION OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW12

Leadership in Healthcare Organisations12

Incidents in Hospitals13

Role of Nurses18

Error Prevention Theory22

Findings from NRLS25

Themses Emerged From the Systematic Review29

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW PROJECT31

IMPLICATIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE33

Recommendations for Practice33

CONCLUSION35

REFERENCES37

APPENDIX48

Introduction

The most common inpatient accident and the largest single category of hospital incidents are falls, according to reports published since the 1940s (Nakai, Akeda, & Kawabata, 2006; Oliver, Connelly, Victor, Shaw, Whitehead, Genc et al., 2007), and account for 25% to 84% of inpatient adverse events (Spetz, Jacob, & Hatler, 2007). Despite numerous fall prevention programs and a myriad of studies, patient falls continue to plague health care organisations. Every healthcare organisation is faced with the constant potential for patient falls and strives to provide a safe environment that delivers quality care (Gowdy, 2003).

Interest in nursing's contribution to patient safety is growing (Blegen, 2006; Kurtzman & Corrigan, 2007). A substantial body of patient safety research suggests that nurse-related adverse events result from an interaction among multiple factors rather than a single phenomenon (Blegen, 2006; Page, 2004). Although evidence is inconclusive, factors thought to influence nurse-related patient safety in a hospital setting include staffing, working conditions, organisational culture, pre-licensure educational content, information seeking behaviour, expertise, and clinical decision-making ability (Pirret, 2007). The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review regarding the role of nurses in reducing inpatients slips, trips and falls.

Focus Question and Rationale

Medical incidents can be a serious problem in the health care system. Some errors can even become life threatening, as well as ...