One of the challenges we encountered was including floats and per diems in the teaching process, and ensuring their compliance, since they have no real investment in the unit. We did develop an auditing tool to monitor compliance. Initially, we used this quite often, but over time we have reduced the need to an occasional basis. The research, planning, teaching and implementation of side rail reduction took us two years to complete. It was well worth the effort.
Evaluation is ongoing.
We continue to look at side rail need with each new admission and with each change in a resident's status. Our falls out of bed have not increased, neither have they decreased. They have remained the same, however, our falls out of bed have been noted to be safer falls, with less injury related to the fall. We have accomplished much beyond our original purpose. We've reduced injuries caused by falls out of bed.