Date of Award

Spring 2019

Document Type

DNP Project Restricted

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Committee Chairperson

Veronica Wilbur, Ph.D., APRN-FNP, CNE, FAANP

Committee Member

Amy M. Sawyer, Ph.D., RN

Committee Member

Cheryl D. Schlamb, DNP, CRNP

Abstract

The Falls T.I.P.S. program is a person-centered approach for nurses to educate and engage the veteran and family to identify falls risks as well as using falls prevention interventions to reduce falls. Once the veteran and/or family are educated, it was expected that they have an understanding and an increased awareness of fall risks and fall prevention interventions. With the support of nursing, family members and other hospital staff, each veteran would engage in a daily discussion about his/her falls risk and personalized falls prevention limitations which is displayed on a personalized poster to mitigate falls. Weekly audits were conducted with inconsistent compliance. Final cumulative review of data demonstrates progress toward compliance with each data element which could lead to positive outcome. The falls data, however, does not demonstrate a relationship between implementation of the fall T.I.P.S. program with a decrease in falls on the unit. Many variables could influence outcomes and many opportunities were identified to alter the program to meet the unique needs of the veteran population. The outcome of this project suggests the worth while efforts to continue the program on the current unit, collaborate with original authors to have the tool amended, and continue the program on additional units to include long term care.

Share

COinS