Date of Conferral

8-12-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Melissa Rouse

Abstract

Falls are a significant concern for residents in long-term care facilities who are 65 years old or older, which places them at a higher risk of injury. The risk of falling is unique to each patient and cumulative with advanced age and complex comorbidities. A Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility in Minnesota had 6.6% of long-stay residents experience a fall resulting in a major injury, higher than the Minnesota average of 4.1%. This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) outlines foundational components for preventing and reducing falls among geriatric patients in long-term care facilities. The purpose of the CPG is to outline the need to complete fall risk assessments, implement interventions and treatments to prevent falls, and hold post-fall huddles to identify missed opportunities and improve patient safety. The current facility utilizes a MORSE fall risk assessment but does not have ongoing fall risk assessments or post-fall huddles. Further evidence highlights the importance of engaging staff, patients, and their families in fall prevention. It also outlines the importance of monitoring to ensure quality care is provided and that the rate of falls does not exceed benchmarks for long-term care facilities. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument will be used by the content-expert peer review panel to assess the quality of the newly created CPG. The AGREE II Tool encompasses six domains: scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity of presentation, applicability, and editorial independence (AGREE II Instructions - AGREE Enterprise Website).

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