Publication Title
2024 Oncology Nursing Society Congress
Document Type
Abstract
Publication Date
4-26-2024
Keywords
oregon; ppmc
Abstract
Significance & Background
Falls and fall-related injuries impact patients' health outcomes and are the most commonly reported adverse event in hospitals. Patient falls also affect reimbursement rates and can increase length of stay by about 6.3 days and increase undue patient harm. An increase of patients falls on the medical and surgical oncology acute care units have caused undue physical harm, increased moral distress, mental fatigue, and burnout in nurses; as well as placing financial burdens on the healthcare system. Implementing fall education and interventions aligns with national patient safety goals, is a top-priority project, is in alignment with the organization's strategic plan and is a cost-savings topic related to reimbursement rates.
Purpose
Several evidence-based fall bundles have been shown to help reduce patient falls. The hospital where the intervention was implemented has many fall-risk interventions; however, there is no standardization of interventions or education for the caregivers implementing fall prevention interventions, making it a non-standardized approach for patient fall prevention. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of tailored fall education to oncology RNs and CNAs on fall reduction on the medical and surgical oncology acute care units.
Interventions
This project used a quasi-experimental design with a pre- and post-test evaluating the nursing staff’s knowledge pre- and post-fall education. Retrospective and prospective reviews of patient fall rates, were conducted two months before the fall educational sessions, and prospective reviews were conducted after implementing fall education.
Evaluation
This scholarly project showed a statistical significance in knowledge gained about fall prevention and fall precautions when comparing the pre- and post-knowledge test given to the nurses and nursing assistants in the medical and surgical oncology units. However, this project did not show statistical significance in the fall rates pre- and post-education.
Discussion
The implications for practice are immense. It will be essential to ensure that the organization updates its education of new nursing staff regarding fall education to ensure that all new nursing staff are equipped with the same fall education, and the new practice does not fall by the wayside. Some limitations of the project were the number of participants, a 10-day labor stoppage during the post-intervention phase, and short staffing post-implementation. The researcher will suggest the organization continue to monitor the long-term results of patient falls via the NDNQI database.
Area of Special Interest
Cancer
Specialty/Research Institute
Nursing
Specialty/Research Institute
Oncology
