Taking the Fall for Kids: A Journey to Reducing Pediatric Falls

PURPOSE

To reduce harm related to pediatric falls, a quality improvement project was conducted at a children's hospital.

DESIGN AND METHODS

An interprofessional team designed and implemented evidence-based interventions to align with the hospital's journey to reduce patient harm. These interventions included selection and implementation of a fall risk assessment tool, implementation of fall bundle elements, and implementation of fall prevention education to patients and families. Surveys, audits, and rate of falls were used to evaluate the project.

RESULTS

Fall bundle compliance increased from 27% to 88% and there were zero patient falls in five out of the six months after implementation a comprehensive pediatric fall prevention program.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing pediatric-specific, evidence-based interventions can help to reduce patient falls. There was a substantial increase in fall bundle compliance and a decrease in falls and falls with injury.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Engagement and empowerment of clinical nurses in the quality improvement process design and implementation can substantially improve patient outcomes and patient safety while reducing harm. Future research is needed to determine factors that promote enhanced reporting needed to determine the true incidence of patient falls in pediatric inpatient and outpatient settings.