Since pregnancy is not considered as an illness, the pregnant mothers are usually overlooked as a risk group for falls (Heafner et al., 2013). Nonetheless, this class of patients present a unique group with regard to falls due to potential of a fall having double impact on the health of the mother and the unborn (Heafner et al., 2013). This accentuates the need for a fall prevention program within the obstetric unit in order to secure the well-being of its unique clients.
There are a myriad of factors that predispose this class of patients to falls and hence the resulting injuries. One of the factors that place obstetric patients at the risk of falls is that pregnancy is accompanied by various health conditions such as anemia which in severe cases may cause blurred images or even dizziness (Heafner et al., 2013). Impaired vision and dizziness increase the likelihood of falls among pregnancy mothers. Additionally, factors such as stress and weight gain during pregnancy can cause falls (Heafner et al., 2013). For instance, severe levels of stress impair cognitive and attention span, hence predisposing pregnant mothers with emotional stress to falls.
Falls and the resulting injuries are among the leading causes of long hospital stays, post-natal readmissions and ED visits for obstetric patients (Lahey et al., 2015). The occurrence of falls translates to patient dissatisfaction and increased cost of care. In this regard, the implementation of a fall prevention program in this unit can act as a proactive measure towards fall prevention, hence arresting falls and the subsequent injuries before their occurrence (Lahey et al., 2015). The implementation of a fall prevention program in the OB is a milestone towards promoting the achievement of desired patient outcomes and the overall satisfaction by the patients.
The RN has a paramount in implementing the fall prevention program in the OB unit. A fall prevention program majorly involves the RN in a multi-dimensional manner, among them undertaking a thorough fall assessment risk during admission and during the course of patient stay in the unit (Lahey et al., 2015). On the other hand, through engaging observation and clinical judgment, the RN can serve as a vital source of information related to the potential causes of falls and the pitfalls to guard with regard to the occurrence of falls (Lahey et al., 2015). In a nutshell, the practical implementation of a fall prevention program largely lies on the hands of the RN due to their constant contact with OB patients.
References
Heafner, L., Suda, D., Casalenuovo, N., Leach, L. S., Erickson, V., & Gawlinski, A. (2013). Development of a tool to assess risk for falls in women in hospital obstetric units. Nursing for women's health, 17(2), 98-107.
Lahey, M., Graul, A., Meyers, S., Ferrarello, D., & Oxford, C. M. (2015). Keeping Our Newborns Safe: Effectively Decreasing the Rate of Neonatal Falls During the Postpartum Period [344]. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 125, 108S-109S.
