Fall Prevention Evidence-Based Practice Guideline: Orthostatic Hypotension
Orthostatic hypotension occurs when there is a temporary drop in the blood pressure while going from a laying or sitting position to a standing position suddenly. “The concern with this condition is that the severe initial decline in blood pressure can occur so suddenly that baroreflex responses cannot compensate in a timely manner to recover and maintain adequate blood pressure and cerebral perfusion” (Shaw & Claydon, 2014, p. 7). The quick movement of standing causes a decrease in blood pressure because of the quick flow of blood pouring into the lower extremities. This causes less blood to circulate back through the heart, causing hypotension. Shaw and Claydon (2014) states that the amount of blood that is pooled into the legs after standing
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Kruschke and Butcher (2017) research supports “The purpose of the current fall prevention evidence-based practice guideline is to describe important strategies that will identify individuals at risk for falls, especially those 65 and older” (p. 16). A risk assessment tool is commonly used throughout hospitals to assess clients to determine if they are a fall risk. This screens the client based on several difference factors such as their age, fall history, medications, mobility, and several others. Another tool is the use of the 10-step protocol to screen the client. “The use of the 10-step protocol provides the tools needed to screen and/or assess for falls, screen for gait and balance, and develop an individualized fall intervention program intended to reduce falls in the aging population” (Kruschke & Butcher, 2017, p. 21). All fall prevention tools may assess the client differently but have the same goal in mind: maintaining safety and preventing the client from falling and injuring themselves. Along with assessment tools, there are other preventive measures that can be done. Yellow is standard throughout hospitals for high fall risk. A yellow arm band, yellow socks, and yellow gowns can indicate that the client is a high fall risk. Bed alarms are also used to alarm the nurses that the client is trying to get up out of bed. Educating the client to ring the call light and waiting on help before getting up is also a preventive measure. Goodwin et al. (2014) noted that multifactorial interventions, where each client’s interventions are tailored to their needs, have shown to reduce the rate of falls (p. 2). This means that one client may just have yellow socks and yellow arm band on to let staff know the client is a high fall risk and another client may have the arm band and socks on but also the bed alarm must be
Kruschke and Butcher (2017) research supports “The purpose of the current fall prevention evidence-based practice guideline is to describe important strategies that will identify individuals at risk for falls, especially those 65 and older” (p. 16). A risk assessment tool is commonly used throughout hospitals to assess clients to determine if they are a fall risk. This screens the client based on several difference factors such as their age, fall history, medications, mobility, and several others. Another tool is the use of the 10-step protocol to screen the client. “The use of the 10-step protocol provides the tools needed to screen and/or assess for falls, screen for gait and balance, and develop an individualized fall intervention program intended to reduce falls in the aging population” (Kruschke & Butcher, 2017, p. 21). All fall prevention tools may assess the client differently but have the same goal in mind: maintaining safety and preventing the client from falling and injuring themselves. Along with assessment tools, there are other preventive measures that can be done. Yellow is standard throughout hospitals for high fall risk. A yellow arm band, yellow socks, and yellow gowns can indicate that the client is a high fall risk. Bed alarms are also used to alarm the nurses that the client is trying to get up out of bed. Educating the client to ring the call light and waiting on help before getting up is also a preventive measure. Goodwin et al. (2014) noted that multifactorial interventions, where each client’s interventions are tailored to their needs, have shown to reduce the rate of falls (p. 2). This means that one client may just have yellow socks and yellow arm band on to let staff know the client is a high fall risk and another client may have the arm band and socks on but also the bed alarm must be