NR 584NP Week 7 Assignment_Applying Quality Improvement (QI) to Clinical Practice - Falls with injury

• What inconsistencies exist between your facility’s current policies, actual nursing practice, and best evidence related to your assigned topic? What evidence (data, observation, incident reports) suggests a need for improvement? a. There are currently no inconsistencies between my facilities' policies and actual nursing practices or best practices. Hospitals can implement a wide array of fall-prevention practices, including monitoring tools, bed modifications, identification practices, safety practices, and patient and family education (Turner et al., 2022). All these practices are currently in use at my facility. Specifically, our facility has implemented bed alarms and non-slip socks to reduce the risk of patient falls. Nurses receive regular training on fall- prevention protocols and are required to conduct routine risk assessments for every patient. Visual identifiers, such as colored wristbands, are used to alert staff to patients at higher risk for falls. Patients and their families are actively involved in fall-prevention education to ensure they understand the importance of following safety guidelines. Regular audits and staff feedback sessions are conducted to review and improve existing practices, maintaining a proactive approach to patient safety. b. The ongoing incidence of reported falls demonstrates the need for improvement. Five falls have been documented from September 2025 to the present. The occurrence of even one fall is regarded as unacceptable. Section 2: Analyze • Review national safety resources related to your topic. Name at least two national organizations or initiatives (e.g., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Institute for Health (IHI), National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG)) and summarize the guidance they provide related to your topic. o The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses an evidence-based approach to hospital fall prevention centered on the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) initiative. STEADI provides tools to screen, assess, and intervene to reduce fall risks in older adults. The initiative is designed to help healthcare providers implement effective strategies to prevent falls among older adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025). STEADI coordinates fall-risk screenings, risk-factor assessments, and evidence-based interventions. These interventions include medication review, strength and balance exercises, and home safety modifications. The program offers healthcare teams resources to integrate fall prevention into routine care. Its goal is to improve patient outcomes, maintain independence, and reduce falls- related injuries and deaths among the elderly. o The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) offers a variety of tools, training programs, and research initiatives aimed at preventing falls in hospital setngs. AHRQ emphasizes the significant health risks associated with falls, particularly older adults, and provides a range of evidence-based resources for prevention and management within healthcare environments. These resources include the Falls Management Program and the Preventing Falls in Hospitals Toolkit, which support healthcare professionals in implementing effective strategies to prevent falls. Key strategies include risk assessment, staff education, environmental modifications, patient and family engagement, and continuous monitoring. The primary objective is to enhance patient safety, reduce fall-related injuries, and