Standard risk assessment forms help reduce preventable harm in older adult inpatients: A retrospective chart review study

Abstract

Aims: To examine nurse documentation of assessments using standard risk assessment forms in older inpatients, and to determine the value of such assessment.Design: Cross-sectional retrospective chart review.Methods: This retrospective review of risk evaluation documentation in patients' medical records focused on skin, continence, medical complications, nutrition, cognition, mobility, medications and pain.

Risk factors for manifestations of frailty in hospitalized older adults: A qualitative study

“…To reduce duplicative processes, it is important to clearly define the role of different MDT members in identifying and reducing risk for MoF. Nurses already play a significant role in risk screening and assessment procedures (Han et al, 2021 ; Redley & Raggatt, 2017 ), care quality and patient safety (Aiken et al, 2017 ) and therefore may be well placed to co‐ordinate risk reduction for MoF. However, a need for further specialist or advanced nursing training to support leadership and competency in working with older people with frailty has been identified (Goldberg et al, 2016 ; Naughton et al, 2016 ).…”

“…The multidisciplinary care team (and in particular, nurses), has a key role in undertaking risk assessment and management procedures in hospitalized older adults (Han et al, 2021 ; Redley & Raggatt, 2017 ). In the United Kingdom, there are separate guidelines for the prevention and management of MoF in hospital e.g.…”

Testing Function Focused Care for Acute Care using the Evidence Integration Triangle: Protocol description

“…Individuals with dementia make up 25% of all older adults who are admitted to the hospital. These individuals are the most likely to experience hospital‐related events such as a fall, delirium, behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia (BPSD), decreased ability to perform personal care activities or to ambulate, and a longer period of time in the hospital when compared with cognitively intact older adults (Fox et al, 2021; Han et al, 2021).…”

Barriers and enablers to nurses' use of harm prevention strategies for older patients in hospital: A cross‐sectional survey

“…For example, nurses can complete up to 25 forms containing over 500 data items for an older patient on admission to hospital (Redley & Raggatt, 2017 ). Despite the volume of data collected by nurses, assessments of some factors that contribute to common preventable harms are frequently missed, interventions and documentation about strategies used to prevent harm were variable, and new harms frequently identified (Han et al, 2021 ; McGrath et al, 2017 ; Redley & Baker, 2019 ). The information needed by nurses to tailor a personalized comprehensive care plan is often inconsistently captured in medical records, particularly when multiple risks are present (McGrath et al, 2017 ; Redley & Raggatt, 2017 ) such as during care for vulnerable older people.…”

“…delirium, cognitive or mental impairments], M edications, M obility and P ain) was developed and endorsed by experts as suitable to assist nurses to identify and address eight interrelated factors required for comprehensive nursing care to prevent harm to older patients during acute hospitalization (Redley & Baker, 2019 ; Redley & Raggatt, 2017 ). While used in previous research to evaluate practices and identify evidence‐practice gaps in nurse assessment, planning and interventions for harm prevention in hospitals (Han et al, 2021 ; McGrath et al, 2017 ; Redley & Baker, 2019 ; Redley & Raggatt, 2017 ), the eight‐factor framework has yet to be applied and evaluated in interventions to guide clinical practices.…”