Which of the following represents strategies used to prevent patient falls in a hospital setting?

• A. Rely on patient relatives for supervision.
• B. Only implement side rails without other measures.
• C. No safety measures are needed.
• D. Fall risk assessment, use of side rails if ordered, non-slip footwear, accessible call lights, maintain bed in low position, remove obstacles, use bed alarms per policy.

Answer: (D)

Fall prevention in hospitals relies on a structured, multi-component plan. By assessing each patient’s fall risk and applying a combination of safeguards, the goal is to reduce both falls and injury if a fall occurs. The best choice reflects this approach: a fall risk assessment, use of side rails if ordered and per policy, non-slip footwear, easily accessible call lights, keeping the bed in a low position, removing obstacles, and using bed alarms as required by policy. This covers the patient’s vulnerability and the surrounding environment, helping patients get help quickly and stay safer.

Relying on relatives for supervision isn’t a reliable safety strategy, since supervision can vary and isn’t standardized. Using only side rails without other measures misses many contributing factors, and assuming no safety measures are needed ignores the clear risk of falls in the hospital setting.