An integrative review of pediatric fall risk assessment tools

Source: Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 2017, online

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Date of publication: March 2017

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Patient fall prevention begins with accurate risk assessment. However, sustained improvements in prevention and quality of care include use of validated fall risk assessment tools (FRATs) to identify patients at highest risk. Adult FRATs are often used to create tools for pediatric patients. However, adult FRATs do not adequately assess risk in children, and pediatric FRATs have not been found to be reliable and valid across institutions and diverse populations. This review highlights the importance of choosing a FRAT based on an institution’s identified risk factors and validating the tool for one’s own patient population.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Program™

Source: Nurse Leader, 2016, Vol 14 no 3 p. 212-218

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Date of publication: June 2016

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is in South Florida and is a licensed speciality hospital exclusively for children, with a mission to safeguard hospitalized children by keeping them safe from harm. The organization has gained international attention for its seminal work in preventing falls in the paediatric population, integrating the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet^® Model and exemplary professional practice. The Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Program™ is an innovative, evidence-based tool that has become a standard of safe paediatric care, decreasing paediatric patient falls while evolving into a standard of care around the globe.

Length of publication: 6 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link fto find your local NHS Library.

The medico-legal evaluation of injuries from paediatric falls

Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 2015 (online)

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Date of publication: February 2015

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Falls present a high risk of morbidity and mortality, and place a heavy financial burden on the healthcare system, especially in children who are prone to fall accidents. This paper looks at preventive measures that could be introduced to reduce such events.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Effect of prevention measures and characteristics of paediatric wards

Source: Japan Journal of Nursing Science, online

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Date of publication: January 2013

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This Japanese study looked at the rate of paediatric falls after fall prevention measures had been put in place. The results indicate that educating parents and novice nurses is the most effective way of preventing paediatric falls. It is important to develop valid paediatric fall risk assessment tools.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.