Date of Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Completion
Spring 5-12-2026
Faculty Advisor
Francine Snow
Abstract
FALL PREVENTION IN A MEDICAL INTERMEDIATE CARE UNIT (MIMU) THROUGH USE OF A COLLABORATIVE FALL BUNDLE
PURPOSE
This DNP project focused on reducing the fall rate in a medical intermediate care unit by half, from 1.81 falls per 1000 patient days to 0.91 falls per 1000 patient days.
BACKGROUND
The number of patient falls poses a significant concern in a medical intermediate care unit. The fall rate goal is zero.
METHODOLOGY
The Collaborative Fall Bundle includes implementing the Fall TIPS Toolkit, an 11 x 17 bedside poster informing patients and staff of their fall risk factors and interventions to counteract; an alarm buddy system pairing two nurses to answer each other's call lights and assist with ambulation-required tasks; and a zoning approach requiring nurses to complete charting at an assigned zone, enabling timely responses to bed alarms. The project was guided by the Plan-Do-Study- Act model. Anonymous electronic surveys evaluated staff opinions of each element. The primary project measure was the fall rate.
RESULTS
The fall rate decreased from 1.81 to 0.89 falls per 1000 patient days. Surveys revealed non- compliance with certain elements of the bundle such as zoning staff within the unit and the alarm buddy system, while the Fall TIPS toolkit was widely favored.
IMPLICATIONS
The project duration limited the sample size. While the project yielded positive results, a year-long project may better assess the impact of the Fall TIPS toolkit alone in reducing falls. This project effectively reduced falls by 50%, and with the staff’s satisfaction with the Fall TIPS toolkit, improvements appear sustainable.
Keywords
Fall prevention, intermediate care unit, Fall TIPS Toolkit, patient safety, nursing interventions, alarm buddy system, fall rate reduction, zoning approach, Texas, healthcare quality improvement
Recommended Citation
Jose, Sara M., "Fall Prevention in a Medical Intermediate Care Unit (MIMU) Through Use of a Collaborative Fall Bundle" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract. 28.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dnp_abstract/28