Activity Summary
Our CSI team noticed that our trauma patient population comprises primarily geriatric patients: 50% of trauma admissions are over age 65. To improve assessment of our geriatric trauma patients, we implemented a clinical frailty scale to identify those patients at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Our efforts resulted in a 34% increase in frailty screening of geriatric trauma patients and a decrease in geriatric trauma patients’ length of stay of 3% (0.2 days). Our change project was positively received by the geriatric medicine team and led to an increase in overall awareness of frailty on our unit. This growth in frailty awareness generated an increase in geriatric consults and a decrease in
pressure injuries, both unintended positive outcomes.
Objectives
- Discuss key concepts of a direct care nurse unit change project ter text
- Apply tools and methods shared in their own unit
Continuing Education Disclosure Statement
Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) are recognized by the AACN Certification Corporation, our credentialing arm, to encompass a wide spectrum of continuing education activities performed by nurses in high acuity and critical care and fulfill educational requirements for certification. Synergy CERP is a program exclusive to AACN for nurses wishing to recertify through AACN.
State boards of nursing and other certification organizations may recognize CERPs as meeting CE Contact Hour requirements. We recommend consulting with the state board or credentialing organization before submitting CERPs to fulfill CEContact Hour requirements.