Date of Conferral
8-13-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Susan Huehn
Abstract
Falls pose a major safety risk for elderly individuals living in long-term care facilities, leading to injuries, hospitalizations, loss of autonomy, increased healthcare expenses, and higher morbidity and mortality rates. In the facility involved in this project, the incidence of falls was above anticipated benchmarks. Factors such as high staff turnover and reliance on agency staff resulted in inconsistent knowledge among personnel regarding fall prevention measures. Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement initiative aimed to implement and assess an evidence-based educational program designed to enhance staff understanding and skills related to fall-risk assessment, the identification of both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, and the execution of fall-prevention strategies within a long-term care setting. Methods: A total of twenty-nine participants—including nurses, certified nursing assistants, newly hired staff members, and interdisciplinary team members—took part in the educational intervention. The program utilized evidence-based strategies for preventing falls and included pretest and posttest evaluations to measure learning outcomes. An expert panel consisting of four members assessed the educational program using the AGREE II instrument. Additionally, fall incidence data were analyzed after implementation to observe any changes in the facility’s fall rate. Results: The average knowledge score among participants improved from 64.66% on the pretest to 92.82% on the posttest, indicating a normalized learning gain of 79.55%. The expert panel's assessment via AGREE II resulted in an average guideline recommendation score of 86.25%. After implementing the program, the facility's fall rate decreased to 4.1 falls per 1,000 patient bed days—a reduction of 49.38%. Conclusion: The results indicate that a well-structured education program based on evidence can significantly enhance staff knowledge about fall prevention and may lead to a decrease in falls within long-term care environments. Incorporating education on fall prevention into onboarding processes for new employees and offering ongoing training could help maintain staff competence, foster interdisciplinary teamwork, and ensure safer care for older adults. Keywords: Fall prevention, long-term care, staff education, older adults, patient safety, staff fall prevention competency, evidence-based practice
Recommended Citation
Iwuala-Mcwilliams, Lauretta Ifeoma, "Staff Education on Fall Reduction for Residents of Long-Term Care Facility" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20634.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20634
