Fall Prevention: Guidance on Utilizing Fall Alarms - Online Inservice
Fall alarms serve as an "early warning system"; they alert nursing staff when “fall risk” patients* are engaging in activities that are likely to result in falls. Fall alarms can play a vital role in helping staff to prevent falls. However, the inappropriate selection and/or misuse of fall alarms may actually predispose patients to falls and injuries. The purpose of this course is to provide CNAs at hospitals and long-term care facilities with guidance on the appropriate utilization of fall alarms in reducing fall risk.
(*) The term ‘patient’ is used to refer to both acute hospital patients and long-term care residents.
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Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
- Discuss the appropriate clinical utilization of fall alarms.
- List criteria for the appropriate selection of fall alarms.
- Explain the maintenance of effective fall alarms.
Curriculum
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Fall Prevention Process
- Fall Risk Assessment
- Care Plan
- Post Fall Assessment
- Follow Up
Chapter 3: Types of Fall Alarms
- Pressure Pad Alarms
- Pull-String Alarms
- Floor Mat Alarms
- Built-In Alarms
- How Fall Alarms Work
Chapter 4: Common Uses of Fall Alarms
- Warn Nursing Staff
- Warn Patients
- Alternative to Nurse Call Bells
- Assessment Tool
- Nursing Aid
Chapter 5: Indications for Fall Alarms
- Criteria
- Risk Factors
- Periods of High Fall Risk
- Clinical Process Uses
Chapter 6: Selection of Fall Alarms
- Identify a Multidisciplinary Team
- Identify Patients Benefiting from Alarms:
- Identify Specific Patient Groups
Chapter 7: Choosing the Right Alarm
- Potential Patient Conditions Interfering with Fall Alarms
- Choosing the “Right” Fall Alarm for Staff
- Purchasing the “Right” Fall Alarm
Chapter 8: Maintaining Effective Fall Alarm Systems
- Staff Error
- Organizational Error
- Alarm Error
- Patient Error
- Strategies for Improving the Effectiveness of Fall Alarms
Chapter 9: Auditing Fall Alarms
- Audit Process
Chapter 10: Keys to Success
- Organizational Support
- Staff Education
- Fall Alarm Maintenance
- Audits
- Nurse Champion
Chapter 11: Are Fall Alarms Over-Used?
Chapter 12: Case Studies
Chapter 13: Appendix
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.
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 and Wyoming Boards of Nursing-Certified Nursing Assistants, CE Broker Provider #: 50-13256.