Fall Prevention Decision Making of Acute Care Registered Nurses.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to examine acute care registered nurses' (RNs') fall prevention decision-making. BACKGROUND:The RN decision-making process related to fall prevention needs to be investigated to ensure that hospital policies align with nursing workflow and support nursing judgment. METHODS:Qualitative semistructured interviews based on the Critical Decision Method were conducted with RNs about their planning and decision making during their last 12-hour shift worked. RESULTS:Data saturation was achieved with 12 RNs. Nine themes emerged related to the RN decision-making process and included hospital-level (eg, fear of discipline), unit-level (eg, value of bed alarm technology), and nurse-level (eg, professional judgment) factors that could influence fall prevention. CONCLUSIONS:Nursing administrators should consider a multilevel approach to fall prevention policies that includes promoting a practice environment that embraces self-reporting adverse events without fear of shame or being reprimanded, evaluating unit-level practice and technology acceptance and usability, and supporting autonomous nursing practice.

SUBMITTER: Fehlberg EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7592292 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature