Summary of the Problem: Fall Prevention

Fall Prevention
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Summary of the Problem
A risk for patient falls is a disturbing problem in a healthcare setting because they are known to have lasting psychological and physical consequences to the victims. Particularly patient’s falls result to slow healing, fractures, and loss of confidence in walking. In addition, they cause injuries to patients that leads to functional decline, higher health care costs due to institutionalization, and decreased quality of life in patients. The most vulnerable population are patients with a history of falling as they develop a habit of limiting their activities, hence forming atrophy and a higher risk of another fall. Patients’ risk of falling is determined by previous factors such as the patient’s previous fall, balance impairment, gait, wellness and the use of psychoactive medications. Since patient falls is already a menace, nurses are always on the lookout for effective preventive measures. Preventing falls necessitates a strong governance commitment and an organized, and a data-driven method to attain risk reduction. In the facility, there are 25 patients bed, adult medical-surgical unit, with a Veteran population ranging from 25-98 years old. Although the admission process includes assessing all patients fall history, home medication, and mental stability using the Morse fall prevention tool, we are still seeing an increase in falls. The facility is now open to more interventions and techniques to ensure patient’s safety.
The Identified Model
Based on fall risk factors in patients, the most applicable middle range theory is Betty Neuman’s Systems Model (NSM) because it’s characterized with effective tools that simplify the examination of the patients’ interaction system that is applicable to falls. Neuman’s’ model offers an inclusive, universal and system-based method of healthcare that possesses an aspect of flexibility (Smith & Liehr, 2013). The theory describes the patient’s surrounding as an interconnection of extrinsic and intrinsic forces. In addition, the model is appropriate because it can be used to risk for falls. Essentially, the model places much focus on patients response system to the existing or possible environmental stressors as well as the application of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention intervention to retain, attain and managing patients system wellness (Smith & Liehr, 2013). The basic assumptions of the theory are that the patient is an inactive and a continuous exchange of energy with the environment. Reimbursing for changes in the environment is likely to stimulate and retain patients’ wellness (Smith & Liehr, 2013). The major concept of the theory is that the variable of patients is in interaction with both the internal and external environment.
Origin of Neuman’s Systems Theory
Betty Neuman, BS, MS, Ph.D., in nursing published the Systems Theory and Model was first published in 1972 (Smith & Liehr, 2013). The first publication centered on teaching approaches that can be applied to different patients’ problem. The second publication came later in 1974 where Neuman provided a conceptual framewor...