J Gerontol Nurs
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Comparative Study
Fall occurrence in a geriatric psychiatry setting before and after a fall prevention program.
A fall prevention program providing staff education, quantitative assessment of gait and balance, risk factors assessment, and evidence-based interventions was introduced on two geriatric wards of a regional psychiatric hospital. A within-subjects comparison was made of fall occurrence during the 4-month pre-intervention phase and the 4-month post-intervention phase using Fisher's exact test. Among those (N = 23) who survived the duration of the study, significantly fewer falls occurred in the post-intervention time period than in the pre-intervention time period (p < 0.01). Comprehensive assessment, problem identification, and intervention planning by nurses may serve to reduce the number of falls among elderly individuals with severe psychiatric disorders.
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Delirium in hospitalized elderly patients is a phenomenon requiring a lot of nursing attention. It is also a disorder contributing to poor health outcomes in this population. ⋯ However, delirium is not always easily identified. Therefore, the goal of this article is to increase nurses' knowledge and awareness of early signs of delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) routinely and systematically.
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There is no one formula for culcure change. A joint steering committee of staff members can develop plans that will build trust, address each other as equals, and drive out fear as they move the process of change. Training and sharing information help staff recognize this is a process, not an event. ⋯ Ceremonies, rites, and rituals bind the members to the organization. The values and culture work well because leaders exhibit these values in their interactive communication behaviors. The trend toward increasingly empowered organizations addresses the need to move decision-making to lower levels, leaving the leadership role to one of clearly articulating and demonstrating a sense of purpose and direction dedicated to excellence and quality.
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This study investigated the effects of non-disruptive nighttime care for residents in a personal care setting. The sample consisted of 18 personal care home residents in an urban, 388-bed, long-term care facility located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The study used a quasi-experimental, single-arm design, exposing all residents to both intervention and control conditions. ⋯ No significant differences were noted in the amount of time spent sleeping during the day. There was no evidence of skin breakdown during any phase of the study. Clinical implications of this study demonstrate a need for gerontological nurses to re-evaluate nighttime care routines in personal care settings.