Date of Conferral

5-26-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Melissa Rouse

Abstract

In this staff education initiative, I focused on fall prevention in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) by reinforcing the Morse Fall Scale fall risk assessment tool. Falls in LTCFs are a significant concern, leading to injuries, hospitalization, and declining residents' quality of life. The practice problem stems from insufficient staff training, contributing to inadequate patient care and an increased risk of falls. The practice-focused question was used to explore whether education about fall prevention measures and guidelines improves long-term care nurses’ knowledge and intent to follow these guidelines; a total of 23 participants were involved in this project. Pre- and post-education assessments measured knowledge improvements. The results showed the mean score on preassessment as 8.65% and the mean score on post-assessment as 9.78%, with 100% showing the intention to follow fall prevention guidelines. The results showed that the staff educational program positively impacted staff knowledge regarding fall prevention guidelines. The project showed that regular, targeted education improves staff’s intent to adhere to fall prevention protocols and may reduce falls in LTCFs. Recommendations include ongoing training, continued use of the Morse Fall Scale, and regular monitoring of fall prevention practices. This project has important implications for nursing practice. It demonstrates the value of staff education in improving patient safety and quality of care. By ensuring all staff members have access to high-quality education, this project contributes to positive social change by addressing a key safety concern in LTCFs, ensuring vulnerable populations are protected, and advancing a safety culture in nursing practice.

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