Question

Fall prevention is a national patient safety goal of The Joint Commission and is considered a standard of practice in most institutions.

The obstetric population is considered a healthy group of patients. Should a fall prevention program be implemented on an OB unit for every laboring and postpartum patient?

Describe two factors that place the obstetric patient at risk for falls. Explain why the identified factors increase the obstetric patients risk for injury.

Describe how the implementation of a fall prevention program on the OB unit would help to improve patient outcomes.

Describe the role of the RN in the implementation of a fall prevention program on an obstetric unit.

Answer 1

Fall prevention is a variety of action to help reduce the number of accidental falls suffered by older people.

Falls and fall related injuries are among the most serious and common medical problems experienced by people especially olderly.

Though the obstetric population is considered a healthy group of patients, a fall prevention programm should be implemented on an OB unit to avoid the falls of the prenatal , intra natal and postnatal patients.All maternity patients should have fall screening completed.

Risk factors which influence the obstetric patients to fall include the following.

Antenatal or prenatal women fall risk factors are : pre existing medical conditions, seizures, mental problems etc

Intra natal women fall risk factors are : Epidural analgesia, opioid analgesia , severe fatigue .

Post natal women fall risk factors are : Tiredness following birth, blood loss, hypotension, ongoing effect of anaesthesia, Medications etc.

Implementation of a fall prevention programme in a OB unit:

minimum standards must be maintained in the maternity wards.

1. educate the woman and her partner regarding the fall risks.

2. Encorage the women to wear footwear which are non slippery.

3. obstacles must be removed from the room.

4. create awareness in the woman regarding the use of a call bell for the assistance of the nursing staff.

Implementation include: reminding the patients to call for the assistance if needed.

1:1 ratio of midwife care should be provided for patient who is at risk of falling.

if the patient is suffering from ongoing mobilisation issues she should be referred to physiotherapist for recovery.

Role of registered nurse in the implementation of a fall prevention programme.

1. care is taken for patient with risk of falling.

2. call bell assistance must be provided for the patient to avail the facility of the nurse.

3. patient must be educated regarding the fall risk factors and prevention.

4. helping the patient for mobilisation of the body.