Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention Strategies
Despite increasing recognition of the potential risks associated with in-hospital newborn falls among health professionals, new parents are frequently unaware of the possibility of dropping their newborn, especially in the hospital. Although most newborn falls do not result in lasting harm to the ne...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Patient Safety Authority
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Patient Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://patientsafetyj.com/index.php/patientsaf/article/view/161 |
| _version_ | 1797726149753700352 |
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| author | Elizabeth Kukielka Susan C. Wallace |
| author_facet | Elizabeth Kukielka Susan C. Wallace |
| author_sort | Elizabeth Kukielka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite increasing recognition of the potential risks associated with in-hospital newborn falls among health professionals, new parents are frequently unaware of the possibility of dropping their newborn, especially in the hospital. Although most newborn falls do not result in lasting harm to the newborn, they may necessitate additional healthcare services and cause stress to all involved parties. An analysis of reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) from January 2014 through December 2018 identified 318 events specifically related to newborn falls in the hospital following birth. An increase in the number and rate of serious newborn fall events reported to PA-PSRS was observed compared with a previous analysis by Wallace. Newborn falls were most commonly associated with a caregiver falling asleep (168 events, or 52.8%) and with newborn feeding (72 events, or 22.6%). Strategies to prevent newborn falls in the hospital include focusing efforts on providing support for exhausted parents during the critical time following the birth, offering periods of rest for new parents whenever they are tired, increasing the frequency of rounding when new mothers are breastfeeding, and promoting a midday break in visiting hours. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:41:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53b365085efc4c02980f88884d217081 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2641-4716 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:41:36Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Patient Safety Authority |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Patient Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-53b365085efc4c02980f88884d2170812023-09-02T08:08:19ZengPatient Safety AuthorityPatient Safety2641-47162019-12-011210.33940/falls/2019.12.5Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention StrategiesElizabeth Kukielka0Susan C. Wallace1Patient Safety AuthorityPatient Safety AuthorityDespite increasing recognition of the potential risks associated with in-hospital newborn falls among health professionals, new parents are frequently unaware of the possibility of dropping their newborn, especially in the hospital. Although most newborn falls do not result in lasting harm to the newborn, they may necessitate additional healthcare services and cause stress to all involved parties. An analysis of reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) from January 2014 through December 2018 identified 318 events specifically related to newborn falls in the hospital following birth. An increase in the number and rate of serious newborn fall events reported to PA-PSRS was observed compared with a previous analysis by Wallace. Newborn falls were most commonly associated with a caregiver falling asleep (168 events, or 52.8%) and with newborn feeding (72 events, or 22.6%). Strategies to prevent newborn falls in the hospital include focusing efforts on providing support for exhausted parents during the critical time following the birth, offering periods of rest for new parents whenever they are tired, increasing the frequency of rounding when new mothers are breastfeeding, and promoting a midday break in visiting hours.https://patientsafetyj.com/index.php/patientsaf/article/view/161newborn fall, newborn drop, infant fall, maternal fatigue, breastfeeding, fall prevention |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth Kukielka Susan C. Wallace Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention Strategies Patient Safety newborn fall, newborn drop, infant fall, maternal fatigue, breastfeeding, fall prevention |
| title | Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention Strategies |
| title_full | Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention Strategies |
| title_short | Newborn Falls in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of Recent Events and a Review of Prevention Strategies |
| title_sort | newborn falls in pennsylvania an analysis of recent events and a review of prevention strategies |
| topic | newborn fall, newborn drop, infant fall, maternal fatigue, breastfeeding, fall prevention |
| url | https://patientsafetyj.com/index.php/patientsaf/article/view/161 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elizabethkukielka newbornfallsinpennsylvaniaananalysisofrecenteventsandareviewofpreventionstrategies AT susancwallace newbornfallsinpennsylvaniaananalysisofrecenteventsandareviewofpreventionstrategies |