Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 3-1

Fall Prevention

Goal: The patient does not experience a fall and remains free

of injury. Comments

1. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.


2. Identify the patient.


3. Explain the rationale for fall prevention interventions to
   the patient and family/significant others.


4. Include the patient’s family and/or significant others in the
   plan of care.


5. Provide adequate lighting. Use a night light during sleeping
   hours.


6. Remove excess equipment, supplies, furniture, and other
   objects from rooms and walkways. Pay particular attention
   to high traffic areas and the route to the bathroom.


7. Orient patient and significant others to new surroundings,
   including use of the telephone, call signal, patient bed, and
   room illumination. Indicate the location of the patient
   bathroom.


8. Provide a ‘low bed’ to replace regular hospital bed.


9. Use floor mats if patient is at risk for serious injury.


10. Provide nonskid footwear and/or walking shoes.


11. Institute a toileting regimen and/or continence program, if
    appropriate.


12. Provide a bedside commode and/or urinal/bedpan, if
    appropriate. Ensure that it is near the bed at all times.


13. Ensure that the call bell, bedside table, telephone, and
    other personal items are within the patient’s reach at all
    times.


14. Confer with primary care provider regarding appropriate
    exercise and physical therapy.


15. Confer with primary care provider regarding appropriate
    mobility aids, such as a cane or walker.


16. Confer with primary care provider regarding the use of
    bone-strengthening medications, such as calcium, vitamin
    D, and drugs to prevent/treat osteoporosis.


17. Encourage the patient to rise or change position slowly
    and sit for several minutes before standing.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice