Perceptions and practices of rehabilitation specialist nurses in fall management: a qualitative study

Falls are a critical challenge in rehabilitation nursing, often leading to severe injury and prolonged recovery. Rehabilitation specialist nurses play an essential role in fall prevention; however, they encounter difficulties in accurately identifying risks, personalizing interventions, and collaborating effectively within interdisciplinary teams. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of rehabilitation specialist nurses in fall management and to identify their strategies, challenges, and recommendations for optimizing fall prevention and intervention in rehabilitation settings.

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews (30-60 min) were conducted with 20 rehabilitation specialist nurses from tertiary hospitals, each with at least 2 years of fall management experience. A piloted interview guide with four open-ended questions focusing on risk perception, prevention strategies, challenges, and improvement suggestions was used. Data were analyzed via content analysis using NVivo 14 until code saturation was achieved.

Content analysis identified four main themes: (1) specialized nurses' sensitivity to falls; (2) comprehensive fall risk assessment; (3) system-wide participation in fall prevention; and (4) timely evaluation of fall management effectiveness.

Rehabilitation specialist nurses were found to contribute significantly to fall prevention through multidimensional assessment and personalized interventions. Integrating rehabilitation specialist nurses' expertise in dynamic functional assessment into standard fall prevention protocols is crucial for improving patient safety. Healthcare institutions should leverage their expertise to establish structured prevention protocols, incorporate real-time monitoring, and promote interprofessional cooperation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of fall management in rehabilitation settings.