Falls Management Assignment Analysis

Running Head: FALLS MANAGEMENT 1
The Clinical Risk Management Process
Name of Student
Name of Professor
Institution Affiliation

FALLS MANAGEMENT 2
Date
Background
Ellen is a 76-year-old woman who was recently windowed. She has a history of
hypertension and diabetes. Mrs. Ellen lives alone, but she has three fully grown sons
who come to visit her at least one weekend every month. Ellen was admitted to the
hospital with an injured ankle, which she said was very painful. The patient also had
severe bruises on both arms, and they were severely bleeding. Mrs. Ellen was also
complaining of experiencing severe pain in the back. She narrated that she tripped on
her way to the shop to purchase groceries. It was around 6 pm, and it was getting
dark. She also indicated that she has problems with her eyesight, especially when it
gets dark. Mrs. Ellen was admitted to the hospital, and the wounds in her arms and leg
were dressed. The ankle was also treated, but she still complained of pain. On the

FALLS MANAGEMENT 3
same night, she was admitted, Mrs. Ellen fell again as she was moving from her bed
to visit the toilet. The nurse had advised her against trying to stand or walk without
help. This time around, she fractured the same ankle, and the injury was severe, and
she was screaming in pain. She had to undergo an operation to the affected part, and
this lengthened her stay in hospital.
The floor of the ward in which Mrs. Ellen was admitted was not slippery.
However, after keen scrutiny, it was discovered that there was a liquid on the floor,
and it might have contributed to Mrs. Ellen’s` accident as she was trying to visit the
toilet. There were only two nurses on duty that night caring for 22 patients who were
admitted to the hospital. This, therefore, indicates that there was a severe case of
understaffing and hence making it difficult for nurses to offer appropriate care to
patients. There was also no walking aid to assist a patient with a leg injury, such as
Mrs. Ellen move from one place to another.
Additionally, the fact that the patient has a history of diabetes could have
increased the risk of falling. Research indicates that an old patient with diabetes is 17
more times likely to fall as compared to a young person with the same condition. This
happens because excess glucose in the blood causes nerve damage/neuropathy in
almost 50% of people with diabetes (Growdon, Shorr & Inouye, 2017). This affects
sensation and muscle tone, especially on the feet and hence increasing the risk of
falling.
The clinical risk management process
Identification, monitoring, and recording of the risk

FALLS MANAGEMENT 4
The risk of falling for older people is very high. One of how this risk can be
identified is assessing the medical history of the patient (Rimland et al., 2016). It is
critical for a nurse or any other medical practitioner to determine the fall history of the
patient. A patient who has a history of falls is at a higher risk of experiencing falls.
Another way in which the risk of falling can be identified is by the age of the patient.
The patient above the age of 70 years is more likely to fall as compared to the young
patient (Razjouyan et al., 2017). This is mainly because as a person` age progresses,
the muscles and some joints become weak and hence affecting the balance of the
individual. Poor vision, especially for elderly patients, contributes significantly to an
increase in the risk of falling. Individuals with chronic diseases such as heart
condition, hypertension, and dementia have a high risk of falling. This is because the
disease might cause dizziness, and hence the patient might fall and result in serious
injuries.
The patients` risk of falling can be monitored by continuously monitoring the
environment in which the patient is operating (Callis, 2016). The floor of the patient
ward should not be slippery, and it is also critical to continually check and wipe any
liquid substances that may cause the patient to slip and fall. The patient who has
trouble moving around should always be supported to minimize the risk of falling.
The risk of falling can also be monitored by keeping the record of the medicine that
the patient has been using previously, as well as currently (Tricco et al., 2017). Some
drugs result in an increased risk of falling since they cause dizziness to the patient.
The risk can be recorded in an incident report where information such as the where
the patient was found, his condition when he was assisted as well as the time the
incident occurred (Soliman, Meyer & Baum, 2016). It is also important to record