Answer 3 for NUR 590 Based on the PICOT you developed for NUR-550, summarize the intervention you are proposing

The proposed intervention to mitigate, reduce, and prevent falls and fall-related injuries among elderly patients is hourly rounding combined with structured education for patients and healthcare providers in long-term care facilities for elderly residents. Hourly rounding protocols allow nurses and other providers to detect and identify residents who are at increased risk for falls or have fallen with injuries. Based on the literature review, hourly rounding protocols are essential and enhance patient safety. In their study, Anu et al. (2021) found that hourly rounding protocols reduced falls by 36% within three months the implementation. Structured education on falls and fall management helps nurses and residents get knowledge on risk factors for falls and better interventions to reduce their susceptibility. In their study, Albasha et al. (2023) illustrated that structured education for nursing staff about falls and fall-related injuries was essential in reducing falls among elderly residents. The intervention supports the population of focus, the setting, and the role. Firstly, elderly adults are susceptible to falls in all areas, including long-term care facilities. Falls have adverse effects on the residents and these include injuries that may lead to permanent disabilities and even death, increased cost of care, and readmissions as well as use of emergency room services. Secondly, the intervention supports the setting since a majority of elderly adults live in long-term care facilities that experience increased levels of falls and related injuries. Thirdly, the intervention supports the role of nurse practitioners, especially those dealing with the geriatric population as older adults have increased rates of falls and require nurse-led approaches to reduce the number of falls. The problem of falls and fall-related injuries in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is amenable to research-based intervention as it requires researched solutions or evidence-based practice approaches. Research-based intervention is a strategy founded on research evidence (CMS, 2024). In this case, the problem of falls is critical and requires tested and proven solutions emanating from existing research studies’ findings. The PICOT statement for the problem is:  Among elderly patients aged 65 and above in long-term care facilities (P), does the implementation of hourly rounding protocols combined with fall prevention education and training for patients and staff on fall risk factor (I) compared to standard practices and multiple interventions (C) reduce fall rate by 40% (O) within three months (T)?

References

Albasha, N., Curtin, C., McCullagh, R., Cornally, N., & Timmons, S. (2023). Staff’s insights into fall prevention solutions in long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1): 738. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04435-7 Anu, J. A. (2021). Hourly Rounding and fall prevention among the elderly in long-term care: a change process. Journal of Geriatric Medicine, 3(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jgm.v3i1.2614