NRS 493 Professional Capstone and Practicum Essay

NRS 493 Professional Capstone and Practicum Essay

NRS 493 Professional Capstone and Practicum Essay

NRS 493 Professional Capstone and Practicum Sample Essay

Topic: Preventing and reducing falls among elderly patients in long-term care

Preventing and reducing falls among elderly patients in long-term care is an important evidence-based practice topic. The health and safety of elderly patients in long-term care is a key concern that requires attention and implementation of evidence-based practice topics. For this reason, preventing and reducing falls among elderly patients in long-term care is a vital topic of research. Fortunately, numerous studies have investigated the effectiveness of various interventions aimed at reducing fall risk in this population, and the data indicates that these interventions have proven to be effective. Multifactorial interventions, including fall risk assessments, individualized care plans, staff education, environmental modifications, and exercise programs have all been shown to reduce fall rates among elderly patients in long-term care (Dhargave et al., 2020). Furthermore, ongoing evaluation and monitoring of fall prevention programs are necessary for ensuring that interventions remain effective over time as well as identifying areas for improvement. The purpose of this assignment is to describe pprevention and reduction of falls among elderly patients in long-term care as the proposed capstone project topic.

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The Problem or Issue, Intervention, Quality Initiative, Educational Need, Or Collaborative Interprofessional Team Project that Will Be the Focus of The Change Proposal

The problem that will be the focus of the change proposal (quality initiative) is the high rate of falls among elderly patients in long-term care facilities. Falls among elderly patients in long-term care facilities are a major problem, resulting in serious injuries, decreased quality of life and costly hospitalizations. To reduce the incidence of falls, a multifaceted fall prevention program will be proposed and implemented. This program will include fall risk assessments, individualized care plans, staff education on risk factors and interventions, environmental modifications to reduce hazards, and exercise programs tailored to each patient (Peek et al., 2020). In order to ensure that this initiative remains effective and relevant over time, there will be ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the fall prevention program with opportunities for improvement based on data collected. Finally, the quality initiative will involve ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the fall prevention program to ensure that it remains effective and to identify areas for improvement.

The educational need for this change proposal will be to provide staff with training on fall prevention strategies and how to implement the fall prevention program. To create and administer the fall prevention program, the nursing staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals will work together as part of the collaborative interprofessional team project. To address the different causes of falls in senior individuals, including medical disorders, pharmaceutical management, environmental variables, and specific patient requirements, this project will call for a multidisciplinary approach (Griffin et al., 2020). This fall prevention program is being put in place with the hopes of lowering the incidence of falls among older people receiving long-term care, enhancing their quality of life, and lowering medical expenses.

The Setting or Context in Which the Quality Initiative Project Can Be Observed

The quality initiative involving preventing and reducing falls among elderly patients in long-term care can be observed in different healthcare systems such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Such facilities are often provide support and care for the elderly patients who require assistance with everyday living activities. The quality initiative should involve executing interventions and strategies aimed at preventing falls among the elderly patients, such as providing mobility aids, application of bed alarms, undertaking regular assessments for patients at risk of falls, and installing grab bars. The goal of quality initiative in these settings is to improve patient safety and the quality of life by reducing the incidence of falls and the related injuries.

Description Regarding the Quality Initiative

Preventing and reducing falls among elderly patients in long-term care facilities is a vital quality initiative aimed at improving patient safety and wellbeing. With the eldest populations rising, understanding how to reduce fall risks can be essential for preserving independence, respecting autonomy and avoiding catastrophic events that are both physically and financially life-changing. Proactive measures must be taken to build an infrastructure of support which includes interventions tailored to the unique needs of each resident (Wong et al., 2020). This includes initiatives such as environmental modification, additional staff training on assessment techniques, implementation of electronic medical record systems for tracking data points, promoting physical activity and utilization of assistive devices. Although this may require additional resources and effort on behalf of caregivers, the potential benefits greatly outweigh any challenge presented by the initiative. Proper implementation of these strategies will significantly reduce frequency of falls in elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities while providing a level of comfort that respects autonomy and promotes self-reliance.

Implementing this quality initiative will be key to providing an effective and comprehensive form of fall prevention for elderly patients in our healthcare facility. The interprofessional project will unite nursing staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare providers to develop a plan reflective of the various elements that interact to determine fall risk at the individual patient level. It is well known that medical conditions, medication management, environmental factors, and individual patient needs are all significant contributors which must be assessed upon implementation of this program (Li et al., 2021). To ensure its proper implementation, it is essential that staff receive adequate training on fall prevention strategies. It is only through collaboration between these professionals that we can address these complex issues to build a realistic and reliable form of prevention for our elderly patients.

The setting or context in which Preventing and reducing falls among elderly patients in long-term care.

Effective of Quality Initiative

Implementing a quality initiative related to the prevention and reduction of falls among elderly patients in long-term care is an important step towards improving the quality of life for elderly individuals. This type of quality initiative could have immense positive impacts on patient safety, reducing the risk factors that lead to falls while providing better equipment such as walkers and raised toilet seats. Additionally, it could increase healthcare staff effectiveness with more structured protocols, identifying fall risks ahead of time, and specific trainings for medical personnel that offer guidance when managing these types of situations (Lee & Yu, 2020). Ultimately, this kind of program will bridge gaps in health care, ultimately leading to better care for all elderly patients living in long-term care facilities. Overall, implementing this quality initiative will be key to providing an effective and comprehensive form of fall prevention for elderly patients in our healthcare facility.

Significance of the Topic and its Implications to Nursing Practice

The prevention and reduction of falls among elderly patients in long-term care is an important topic in nursing practice. Falls are a widespread cause of injury and hospitalization for this population, making it essential for nurses to be aware of the strategies that can help prevent them. Nurses have a critical role to play in this quality initiative by regularly conducting fall risk assessments, creating individualized care plans, educating staff on the proper procedures and protocols, and monitoring the effectiveness of the fall prevention strategies; this topic will provide knowledge and strategies to meet the above roles (Fulmer et al., 2021). This will ensure that the quality of care provided is consistently high and outcomes for these patients continue to improve. Nursing professionals possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that makes them uniquely qualified to lead these efforts in providing safe patient environments.

Solution To the Identified Project Topic with An Explanation of How

It Will Affect Nursing Practice

Prevention and reduction of falls for elderly patients in long-term care is an essential priority for nursing staff. To accomplish this, a comprehensive approach must be taken that includes fall risk assessments, individualized care plans, staff education, and environmental modifications. Implementing these strategies will affect nursing practice by necessitating regular assessments, ongoing education and training opportunities, as well as constant monitoring of patient outcomes. In order to achieve successful outcomes for their patients related to fall prevention and management, it is essential that all nursing professionals be knowledgeable about these strategies and possess the required skills to enact them properly (Albasha et al., 2023). Ultimately, the commitment to effective interventions and positive patient outcomes will help ensure safe care delivery within long-term care facilities. Ultimately, the implementation of these interventions will improve patient safety and quality of care, reducing the incidence of falls and related injuries in long-term care settings.

Conclusion

When caring for elderly patients in long-term care, reducing and preventing the risk of falls is essential. Evidence-based practice topics can be employed to reduce this risk, ensuring that both the health and safety of these patients are being looked after accordingly. Implementing such evidence-based practices will give stakeholders reassurance that their elderly loved ones are receiving the optimum level of protection. Research conducted in this area helps to provide evidence-based recommendations on how successful prevention strategies may be implemented. It is therefore vital to adopt an evidence-based approach when seeking to minimize falls in the elderly long-term care population.

References

Albasha, N., Ahern, L., O’Mahony, L., McCullagh, R., Cornally, N., McHugh, S., & Timmons, S. (2023). Implementation strategies to support fall prevention interventions in long-term care facilities for older persons: a systematic review. BMC geriatrics, 23(1), 47. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12877-023-03738-z

Dhargave, P., Sendhilkumar, R., & James, T. T. (2020). Effect of a structured exercise program in reducing falls and improving balance and gait in the elderly population living in long-term care homes-a randomized controlled trial. Aging Medicine and Healthcare, 11(2), 53-59. https://www.agingmedhealthc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/v11i2_4_amh-2019-07-014.pdf

Fulmer, T., Reuben, D. B., Auerbach, J., Fick, D. M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, K. S. (2021). Actualizing Better Health And Health Care For Older Adults: Commentary describes six vital directions to improve the care and quality of life for all older Americans. Health Affairs, 40(2), 219-225. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01470?af=R&mi=3hcudv&content=articlesChapters&ConceptID=1106&target=topic

Griffin, B., Kessler, A., Luckraft, K., Monroe, H., Richardson, A., Smisek, A., & Wohletz, H. (2020). Decreasing Falls in the Elderly Population Living in Long Term Care Facilities. https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1106&context=ur_cscday

Lee, S. H., & Yu, S. (2020). Effectiveness of multifactorial interventions in preventing falls among older adults in the community: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 106, 103564. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020748920300493

Li, F., Harmer, P., Eckstrom, E., Ainsworth, B. E., Fitzgerald, K., Voit, J., … & Needham, S. (2021). Efficacy of exercise-based interventions in preventing falls among community-dwelling older persons with cognitive impairment: is there enough evidence? An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Age and ageing, 50(5), 1557-1568. https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/50/5/1557/6296931

Peek, K., Bryant, J., Carey, M., Dodd, N., Freund, M., Lawson, S., & Meyer, C. (2020). Reducing falls among people living with dementia: a systematic review. Dementia, 19(5), 1621-1640. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kerry-Peek/publication/327986338_Reducing_falls_among_people_living_with_dementia_A_systematic_review/links/5d350e3292851cd0467b4708/Reducing-falls-among-people-living-with-dementia-A-systematic-review.pdf

Wong, R. M. Y., Ho, W. T., Tang, N., Tso, C. Y., Ng, W. K. R., Chow, S. K. H., & Cheung, W. H. (2020). A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating vibration therapy as an intervention for postural training and fall prevention after distal radius fracture in elderly patients. Trials, 21(1), 1-6. https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-019-4013-0

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Assessment Description

In collaboration with the approved course preceptor, students will identify a specific evidence-based topic for the capstone project change proposal. Students should consider the clinical environment in which they are currently employed or have recently worked. The capstone project topic can be a clinical practice problem, an organizational issue, a leadership or quality improvement initiative, or an unmet educational need specific to a patient population or community. The student may also choose to work with an interprofessional collaborative team.

Students should select a topic that aligns to their area of interest as well as the clinical practice setting in which practice hours are completed.

Write a 500-750 word description of your proposed capstone project topic. Include the following:

1. The problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project that will be the focus of the change proposal.
2. The setting or context in which the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project can be observed.
3. A description (providing a high level of detail) regarding the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project.
4. Effect of the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project.
5. Significance of the topic and its implications for nursing practice.
6. A proposed solution to the identified project topic with an explanation of how it will affect nursing practice.

You are required to cite to a minimum of eight peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice. Plan your time accordingly to complete this assignment.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

TOPICS CHOSEN  for the practicals and cite

The site is the nursing home Gardens at Wyoming Valley Wilkes- Barre. PA

1. Nurse leadership and quality improvement
2. Preventing and reducing falls among elderly patients in long-term care
3. Using exercises to reduce fall risk in elderly patients
4. Develop a patient education program on type 2 diabetes and its management
5. Accessing the home environment to reduce patient`s fall risk