Title: Let’s get in the zone to prevent falls
Abstract:
Background: Falls impact patient safety and outcomes on medical-surgical (MS) units. The fall rate on nine MS units was 2.29 falls per 1,000 patient days, (December 2023-March 26, 2024). Zoning was implemented to decrease falls. The project's goal was to reduce the fall rate by 20%. To achieve this, a zoning strategy was introduced across nine MS units, where nurses were assigned specific zones to oversee.
Purpose: The goal of this project was to reduce the fall rate in nine medical surgical units by implementing zoning. By positioning nurses closer to patient rooms, the project aimed to improve response time to call lights and bed exit alarms, thereby enhancing patient safety and achieving a fall rate below the target of 1.83 falls per 1,000 patient days.
Method/Strategy/implementation/description: The project employed a zoning strategy across nine medical-surgical units to reduce fall rates. Nurses were assigned to specific zones near their patient rooms to improve response times. Implementation began March 27th 2024. A mandatory meeting with charge nurses was conducted. Nurse Educator and Director of Nursing presented a presentation on Zoning. Each unit was presented with what zoning would look like on their unit based on the unit layout and nurse to patient ratio. Nurses were stationed in different zones with majority of their patients being in the same zone they were stationed in. Rounding discussing zoning with staff was completed by the nurse educator. Continuous support and training were provided to ensure effective adoption of the new system.
Results/Outcomes: After three months of implementing the zoning system, the fall rate in the medical surgical units decreased from 2.29 to 1.82 per 1,000 patient days. This reduction was below the project’s goal of achieving a fall rate below 1.83 per 1,000 patient days, demonstrating the effectiveness of the zoning strategy in reducing falls by enhancing response times.
Implications for Nursing Practice: This projects success in reducing fall rates through zoning has significant implications for nursing practice and policy. It underscores the value of strategic nurse positioning to enhance patient safety and response times. Hospitals may consider adopting similar zoning systems as a standard practice to improve fall prevention. Additionally, the findings could inform nursing education by highlighting the importance of proximity in patient care and promptness in response. Further research could explore the long-term effects and potential for broader application across different setting.
Objectives: Reduce fall rates by 20% within four months of implementing the zoning system. Improve response times: decrease the average response time to call lights and bed exit alarms by at least 15% within four months of implementation.
