After reviewing the Isis Montalvado’s article on NDNQI, it has been noted that almost all nursing quality
indicators are being addressed in my clinical environment. One of the quality indicators that I wanted to
discuss here is the recurrent cases of injuries in older patients due to falls. A fall can be described as a
sudden, unintentional change in a position leading to a person either hits the object below her or his
point or ground. Falls occur because of the body lost balance and the incapability of the skeletal muscles
to support the body (Alves et al., 2017). Age-associated changes in the bodies of the elderly, as well as
the health problems that face them in the senior years, have a significant impact on the increased
incidences of falls and general inability to maintain body balance. Moreover, cognitive impairment,
drugs, and medication and changes in the environment of a person have a part to play in the increased
risk of falling. These increased falls among older adults resulting in several consequences including
physical, social, psychological, and financial. These issues are categorized as physical deformity,
fractures and dislocations, anxiety, and fear of recurring falls (Alves et al., 2017).
Safety of patients is a vital component in healthcare settings by ensuring quality care, minimizing the
risk factors, appropriate documentation of patient’s conditions and analysis of incidents to deplete the
severe impacts of disease conditions on patient’s health. Falls in elder patient is the most common
patient safety challenge in healthcare settings which lead to functional decline, physical debility, chronic
pain, and even death. The strategies used by nursing management and healthcare leaders to reduce the
rate of falls among elderly patients involve:
