Fall Risk Assessment

By VeriScorePrep Team · 4 min

Falls are a leading cause of preventable injury in healthcare settings. Screen every patient on admission and reassess after any change in condition.

Risk factors

Advanced age, prior falls, impaired mobility, cognitive impairment, sensory deficits, polypharmacy (especially sedatives, hypnotics, antihypertensives), and environmental hazards like clutter or poor lighting.

Interventions

Keep the bed in low position with brakes locked, call light within reach, pathways clear and well-lit, and frequent rounding. Use hourly rounding for needs (pain, toileting, position, possessions). Place high-risk patients near the nurses' station and consider a bed alarm per facility policy.

Restraints are a last resort, not a fall-prevention strategy — they can increase injury and require provider orders, monitoring, and least-restrictive use.