Therapy-Led Mobility Education for Nursing Staff as a Fall Prevention Strategy.

Abstract

Purpose: Patient falls are an ongoing challenge in the rehabilitation setting largely because of falls being common among patients during mobility. Rehabilitation nursing staff are responsible for mobilizing patients whenever they are not in therapy, yet are often not trained to carry out complex mobilization techniques in the way therapy staff are.

Methods/results: The integration of therapy-led mobility clinics into nursing staff orientation, along with change-of-shift safety huddles, was successful as a fall prevention strategy on one acute inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Conclusions: Nursing leadership should leverage therapy expertise in the rehabilitation setting to educate nursing staff on complex mobilization techniques for improved patient outcomes.