Implementing a Fall Risk Protocol in an Ambulatory Surgery Setting.

Area of Science:

• Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Falls are a significant safety concern in healthcare settings, particularly in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs).
• Effective fall prevention strategies require robust protocols and consistent staff compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a new fall risk protocol on nursing staff's adherence to fall prevention practices.
• To assess changes in nursing staff's knowledge regarding fall prevention after protocol implementation.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project utilizing a pretest-posttest design guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-based Practice model.
• Implementation of a fall risk protocol including Morse Fall Scale screening and Likert scale measurement of prevention practices in an ASC.
• Educational sessions were provided to nurses, with pre- and post-surveys assessing fall knowledge and practices (N=43).

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvement in compliance with fall prevention practices (P < .001), with post-survey scores higher than pre-survey scores.
• High RN compliance with fall risk screening (97%) and targeted interventions for high-risk patients (97.75%).
• Minimal improvement observed in nurses' fall knowledge scores.

Conclusions:

• The implemented fall risk protocol led to high staff nurse compliance with screening and prevention practices.
• The protocol successfully translated knowledge into practice, improving the identification and communication of patient fall risk.
• While practice adherence improved significantly, further strategies may be needed to enhance nurses' knowledge of fall prevention.