Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults
Published on: December 9, 2014
An Evaluation of Nurses' Compliance With Pressure Ulcer and Fall Risk Assessments
Roai Gassas1, Kholoud Alharbi2, Abrar Fallatah3
1Nursing Department Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Nurse compliance with pressure ulcer (PU) and fall risk assessments varies significantly by hospital unit. Intensive care units show high compliance, while male and surgical wards have lower rates, highlighting areas for improvement in patient safety protocols.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality and Safety
- Nursing Practice
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Pressure ulcers (PUs) and patient falls are significant hospital-acquired complications.
- Inadequate risk assessments contribute to the incidence and severity of PUs and falls.
- Effective interventions depend on accurate and timely patient assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate overall nurse compliance with PU and fall risk assessments upon hospital admission.
- To identify variations in assessment compliance rates across different hospital units.
- To inform targeted quality improvement initiatives for patient safety.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective descriptive study design adhering to STROBE guidelines.
- Data collected from all patients admitted during the 2022 calendar year.
- Analysis of compliance rates for pressure ulcer and fall risk assessments.
Main Results:
- Intensive care units (medical/surgical, burn) demonstrated high PU assessment compliance (>97%).
- Male surgical and orthopaedic wards showed lower PU assessment compliance (69%-80.6%).
- Surgical, orthopaedic, and medical wards had the lowest fall risk assessment compliance (average 69%), contrasted by high compliance in neurosurgery (95.6%).
Conclusions:
- Significant variation exists in nurse compliance with PU and fall risk assessments across hospital units.
- Identifying high-risk units is crucial for implementing targeted interventions to improve patient safety.
- Consistent assessment practices are vital for reducing PUs and falls, enhancing overall healthcare quality.
Aim:
Pressure ulcers (PUs) and falls are two major issues following patient hospitalisation. They result in a series of complications affecting patients, families, and healthcare. Many factors can lead to PUs and falls. The absence of proper assessments of their etiologies exacerbates these issues. Mapping the road to effective assessment is crucial for the right interventions to be implemented according to each patient's needs. This study aims to provide an overall estimate of nurse compliance with PU and fall risk assessments on hospital admission and indicate the degree of variation in compliance rates across different hospital units.
Methods:
Following the STROBE guidelines a retrospective descriptive design was utilised and included all patients for 2022.
Results:
The results showed the general compliance with PU and fall risk assessments and indicated that intensive care units (medical/surgical and burn units) had the highest rate of compliance, which exceeded 97% with the PU assessment. Male wards (surgical and orthopaedic) wards demonstrated low compliance with the PU assessment (69% and 80.6%, respectively). Regarding the fall risk assessment, the surgical, orthopaedic, and medical wards had the lowest rates of compliance with an average of 69%, but the neurosurgery ward had a 95.6% compliance rate.
Patient Or Public Contributions:
Incidences of PUs and falls are essential quality indicators. This research highlights units' characteristics and their compliance with the assessments. Hospital-based assessment is crucial for identifying gaps in assessment and implementing proper interventions. Proper interventions not only improve patient outcomes but also enhance the overall quality of care within the healthcare system. By regularly evaluating these assessments, hospitals can better allocate resources and streamline processes to address patient needs more effectively.
More Related Videos
06:04Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
06:52Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:09Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse II
For example, a nurse demonstrating respect and compassion might listen attentively to a patient's concerns, provide...
01:23Nurses' Legal Responsibilities II
Communication between nurses and...
01:30Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse I
01:29Nursing Assessment
The nurse collects all aspects of the patient's health in the initial assessment, establishing priorities for ongoing focused assessments...
01:30Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management
01:08Obedience