Fall Prevention: Bed Safety
Contact Hours: 1
Cost: $10.00
Many falls in long-term care facilities occur from bed. Falls occur when residents try to get out of bed on their own, most often to go to the bathroom to meet toileting needs. These falling events are associated with significant physical and psychological complications.
This course is designed to assist long-term care staff in:
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Understanding why residents fall from bed.
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Designing strategies aimed at preventing bed falls.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:
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Identify reasons for bed falls.
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Discuss strategies to reduce the risk of bed falls and injury.
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Describe devices used to guard against bed falls and injury.
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State the importance of a bed mobility assessment.
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Recognize environmental factors contributing to bed falls and strategies aimed at modifying unsafe conditions.
Curriculum
Chapter 1: Introduction
Risk Factors for Bed-Related Falls
Causes of Bed-Related Falls and Injury
Chapter 2: Steps in Reducing Bed-Related Falls
Assessment
Performance-Based Bed Mobility Screen
Communicating Fall Risk
Post-Fall Bed Assessment
Chapter 3: Strategies to Reduce Bed Falls
Medical Interventions
Rehabilitative Interventions
Nursing Interventions
Chapter 4: Environmental Strategies
Beds
Floor Surfaces
Lighting
Bed Safety Checklist
Chapter 5: Strategies to Reduce Falls and Injury
Bed Side Rails
Side Rail Risk Assessment
Nurse Call Bells
Sitters
Cushioned Floor Mats
Hip Pads
Helmets
Fixed and Adjustable Low Beds
Body Pillows
Fall Alarms
Ineffective Fall Alarms
Strategies for Improving the Effectiveness of Fall Alarms
Bed Safety Checklist
Chapter 6: Follow Up/Monitoring
Environment
Meeting Basic Needs
Daily Monitoring of Fall Risk
Chapter 7: Bed Safety Audits
Audit Process
Chapter 8: Achieving Success with Bed Safety
Adhere to a Clinical Process
Provide Education
Establish a Multidisciplinary Committee
Ensure Administrative Support