Falls communication patterns among nursing staff working in long-term care settings

Effective fall-risk communication both among staff and between staff and family members is vital for ensuring the safety of residents in long-term care (LTC) settings. This study uses focus group methodology to investigate how information about falls is identified, communicated, and responded to by licensed staff (registered nurses/registered practical nurses) and unlicensed staff (personal support workers) in four LTC facilities. The authors report on the major themes that emerged throughout the focus groups relating to falls management and report on similarities and differences in the communication processes between the two sampled groups. Results highlight communication of the resident's fall risk, reporting procedures to staff and family members, care plan communication and adherence information, a falls quality improvement knowledge deficit, and barriers to falls quality improvement. Recommendations toward improved communication networks among diverse LTC staff to enhance fall-reduction efforts in LTC settings are provided.