A nurse is admitting and orienting an older adult to the hospital unit. She discusses fall preven-tion and demonstrates the use of the call bell to the patient. The patient's daughter asks:
"Why don't you just put up all the side rails to prevent my mother from getting out of bed by herself and falling. That should work, right?" The best response by the nurse is:
a. "Side rails have only proven to be effec-tive in decreasing falls in patients who have already fallen."
b. "There is no evidence that side rail use decreases falls, and in fact there is a greater risk of injury."
c. "Side rails are only effective when used with patients who have dementia."
d. "Side rails do not decrease falls, but they do decrease fall-related injuries."
ANS: B
There is no evidence to date that side rail use decreases the risk or rate of fall occurrence. There are numerous reports and studies documenting the negative effects of side rail use, including en-trapment deaths and injuries that occur when the person slips through the side rail bars or be-tween split side rails, the side rail and the mattress, or between the head or footboard, side rail, the mattress, or between the head or footboard, side rail, and mattress.
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