Fall precautions
Formal Definition
A set of nursing and environmental interventions implemented to reduce the risk of patient falls, including bed alarms, non-slip footwear, call light within reach, frequent rounding, nightlight use, and in high-risk patients, a sitter or 1:1 nursing supervision.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Fall precautions on" or "high fall risk" — triggered by a Morse Fall Scale score above threshold or clinical judgment.
Example
""Patient on fall precautions: elderly, post-op, on opioids and a diuretic, got up to use the bathroom at 3am without calling for help. Near-miss caught by bed alarm. Safety huddle held; sitter requested.""
Clinical Context
Falls are a hospital quality metric and a common malpractice trigger. High-risk factors: age >65, narcotics, sedatives, diuretics, confusion, recent fall, IV lines limiting mobility, post-anesthesia. The most falls happen at night and during shift changes when surveillance is lowest. Knowing your patients' fall risk and advocating for appropriate precautions is something students can actively do — it saves lives.