To be effective, assessment tools need to be sensitive (correctly identify high risk patients/residents) and specific (correctly identify patients/residents not at risk) and, perhaps most importantly, be easy for nurses to use (embedding the fall risk assessment tool into existing nursing assessments helps with “buy-in” and acceptance of the tool/process).
Purpose of Fall Risk Assessments
Identify patient/resident problems (rational basis for deciding whether risk exists)
Identify those patients/residents most likely to fall
Trigger further fall-related assessments (multidisciplinary)
Identify interventions (guide patient/resident care planning)
Raise staff awareness of fall/injury risk
When to Conduct Fall Risk Assessments
Upon admission
Post-fall
Upon change of health condition (including medication changes)