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Fall Prevention: Guidance on Utilization of Low Beds and Floor Mats - Online Inservice

Up to one-half of all falls in hospitals and long-term care facilities involve falling from bed. To avoid bed falls, the usual fall preventive protocol is to maintain patient beds in a low position. For some patients, the low position may not be the safest position. Some individuals may require assistance either to get out of bed, or into bed, or require the bed to be slightly higher than the low setting. The purpose of this course is to provide CNAs at acute care hospital and nursing home staff with practical guidance on the utilization of low beds and floor mats in helping to prevent falls and injurious falls from bed.

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Objectives

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

Recognize the reasons for bed falls.
Identify the difference between fixed and adjustable low beds.
Explain the benefits of using adjustable low beds.
Discuss the clinical approach to utilizing low beds.
Describe the steps needed to achieve success with low beds.
State the benefits of using floor mats.
Define the appropriate use of floor mats.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Causes of Bed-Related Falls

Health Conditions
Environmental Factors
Situational Factors

Chapter 3: Low Beds

Fixed Low Beds
Adjustable Low Beds

Chapter 4: Utilizing Adjustable Low Beds

Step 1: Assess Fall Risk from Bed
Step 2: Assess Bed Mobility
Step 3: Assess Need for Injurious Fall Precautions
Step 4: Communicate Risk
Step 5: Monitor Risk
Step 6: Follow Up
Step 7: Post-Fall

Chapter 5: Achieving Success with Low Beds

“Low Bed” Nurse Coordinator
Education
Administrative Support

Chapter 6: Low Bed Audits

Audit Process

Chapter 7: Floor Mats

Selection Criteria Clinical Issues

Chapter 8: References

Price: $10.00

Contact Hour: 1

Course Author

Rein Tideiksaar

Rein Tideiksaar, PhD, PA-C, or Dr. Rein as he is commonly referred to, is the president of Fall Prevent, LLC, Blackwood, New Jersey, a consulting company that provides educational, legal, and marketing services related to fall prevention in the elderly.

Dr. Tideiksaar is a gerontologist, which is a health care professional who specializes in working with elderly patients, and a geriatric physician's assistant. He has been active in the area of fall prevention for over thirty years.

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Course Accreditation

Provider approved by the California Department of Public Health, Nurse Aide Certification (NAC) #: 7046. This document must be retained by the certified nurse assistant for a period of four years after the course completion. Provider approved by the Florida, New Hampshire, and Wyoming Board of Nursing-Certified Nursing Assistants, CE Broker Provider #: 50-13256.