Geriatric Nursing Commons^™

Bathrooms As A Patient Safety Blind Spot In Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review And Nursing Practice Framework, Carmelo Villani

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Emergency department (ED) bathrooms preserve privacy and dignity but interrupt direct observation. Risks described across clinical publications and professional guidance include falls, unrecognized deterioration, overdose, hazardous ingestion, infection, inaccessible environments, and unmet elimination needs. This review integrated those risks and translated them into a nursing practice framework.

Methods

For the structured narrative review, PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, and Scopus were searched on July 30, 2026, without date, language, age, or publication-type filters. Backward and forward citation chasing and a targeted search for professional documents supplemented database searching. Publications were categorized by ED relevance and synthesized thematically. Professional guidance was analyzed …

Frailty And Activities Of Daily Living In Older Adults In Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study, Öznur Adadıoğlu, Ahmet Seven, Esin Danç

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to examine frailty status and activities of daily living among older adults.

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 306 voluntary participants aged 65 years and older who were registered at a primary healthcare center in a city in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the FRAIL Scale, and the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living.

Results: Among the participants, 36.9% were non-frail, 42.2% were pre-frail, and 20.9% were frail. The mean Katz Index score was 5.42 ± 1.35. The mean scores of activities of daily living …

Nursing Practice In Cancer Treatment Decision Making Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review On Behalf Of The International Society Of Geriatric Oncology Nursing, Allied Health, And Scientists Interest Group, Fay J. Strohschein, Hanneke Van Der Wal-Huisman, K. Alix Hayden, Kristen R. Haase, Michelle Hannan, Cindy Kenis, Juan Li, Nikita Nikita, Sophie Pilleron, Tracy Ruegg, Heike Schmidt, Anke Steckelberg, Cassandra Vonnes, Martine Puts

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Cancer treatment decision making (CTDM) presents important challenges among older adults due to variation in health and functional status, presence of comorbidities, differing goals/values, quality and quantity of life considerations, and limited inclusion in clinical trials. Nursing standards and guidelines call for competence in supporting CTDM and nurses advocate for greater involvement. However, clear understanding of the existing evidence to inform nursing practice is lacking. We aimed to map and synthesize evidence that provides insight into nursing practice in CTDM among older adults, with attention to nursing roles, required skills and competencies, potential barriers and facilitators, and outcomes studied. …

A Hard Problem: Managing Constipation In The Geriatric Population, William G. Jones, Veeraen Jonnalagadda, Alexandra E. Thomson, Victoria Grumbles, Chase Cottle, Christian Robertson, Maulikkumar Patel

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Constipation is a common condition among geriatric patients with different presenting symptoms and potential serious complications. Additionally, the condition causes a significant burden on our healthcare system. Here, we summarized recommendations from several societies, including the American College of Gastroenterology, American Geriatrics Society, and American Academy of Family Physicians to provide guidance on managing constipation with geriatric patients. Our aim was to emphasize the importance of prevention of constipation in this population and methods to do so. We also give recommendations on how to manage constipation when it does develop and how to manage it across different healthcare settings. These …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Non-Punitive Fall Prevention Program, Nicki Roderman, Shandlie Wilcox, Cynthia Lang

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Our single-center, quality improvement project evaluated the impact of a fall reduction plan while using a Just Culture Algorithm that included weekly fall reviews involving front line staff using a non-punitive structure. The project has shown successful results.

Methods

Prior to starting the program, data at this institution indicated falls were higher than the national fall rate of 3-5 per 1000 patient days. To achieve the goal of reducing the fall rate to below 3.1, an interdisciplinary fall committee was formed, consisting of nurses, nursing leaders, patient care technicians, pharmacists, and physical therapists. The committee operated in a non-punitive …

Nurses Leading Volunteer Support For Older Adults In Hospital: A Discussion Paper, Rosemary Saunders, Kate Crookes, Karen Gullick, Olivia Gallagher, Karla L. Seaman, Debra Scaini, Seng G.M. Ang, Caroline Bulsara, Beverley Ewens, Jeff Hughes, Beverly O'Connell, Christopher Etherton-Beer

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Background

The ageing population has led to growing numbers of older adults in hospital. Given the increased care needs of older adult patients, hospitals are facing resource challenges to ensure patient safety and quality of care. Support from trained volunteers focussed on older adults needs, such as eating, drinking, ambulation and cognitive stimulation have been found to improve patient outcomes.

Aim

This discussion paper describes a novel nurse-led model of volunteer support providing individualised supportive care for hospitalised older adults.

Methods

Discussion paper.

Findings

Nurses’ clinical expertise, 24 hour care and leadership skills makes them ideally placed to guide support …

Implementation Of Post Falls Huddles In Skilled Nursing Facility, Princess Lomax

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the quality improvement project, implementation of the post fall huddle in a long-term care facility. Falls are the most common problem in adults 65 years and older. Falls in this population can have devastating effects, often leading to significant changes in morbidity or death. Adults in long term care settings have an increased risk of falling and having a subsequent fall due to an acute illness, weakness, or confusion (CDC, 2015). At the skilled facility, there has been a significant increase in hospitalizations due to injuries sustained from falls. To address this …

Nurse Perception Of Care Of Hospitalized Older Adults – A Comparative Study Between Northern And Central Regions Of Portugal, João Paulo De Almeida Tavares, Alcione Leite Da Silva, Pedro Sá-Couto, Marie Boltz, Elizabeth Capezuti

Publications and Research

Objective: to analyze the relationship between the perceptions of nurses about geriatric care (GC) environment and geriatric nurses’ knowledge and attitudes according to unit type considering the northern and central regions of Portugal.

Method: a cross-sectional study was developed among 1068 Portuguese’s nurses in five hospitals. The instrument was Geriatric Institutional Assessment Profile – Portuguese version. The independent samples t-test was when the assumption of normality was verified, otherwise, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. The level of significance was 5%.

Results: the profile of perceptions of GC showed a relatively homogeneous pattern (no statistically significant results were found). For …

The Effects Of 12 Weeks Of Instructor-Led Yoga Classes On Balance In Older Adults, Patricia C. Hart

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Participation in a regular exercise program is an effective way to reduce and/or prevent a number of functional declines associated with aging (Chodzko-Zajo et al., 2009). Older adults are advised to participate in regular aerobic activity and practice muscle strengthening activities and exercise that maintains or improves balance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, [USDHHS], 2012). Less than one third of older adults engage in 30 minutes of low to moderate intense physical activity at least five days a week as recommended in current guidelines (USDHHS, 2012), and these guidelines fail to address losses in strength and flexibility seen …

Effects Of Emergency Department Care Coordination Team Referrals In Older People Presenting With A Fall, Kristie J Harper, Nicholas P. Gibson, Annette D Barton, Antonio C Petta, Sara K Pearson, Antonio Celenza

Research outputs 2013

Objectives: The study aims to describe the characteristics of patients presenting to an ED with a fall and evaluate multidisciplinary Care Coordination Team (CCT) referrals on patient outcomes.

Methods: A single-centred retrospective analysis of electronic data at an adult tertiary hospital was performed using data from 2004 to 2009 of presentations for patients aged 65 years or over with a fall. The primary outcome measure was representation to hospital within 30 days, comparing patients referred to CCT and those not referred. Secondary outcomes were differences in demographic characteristics, mode of arrival, triage score and readmission.

Results: The proportion of ED …

Interdisciplinary Education In Emergency Preparedness: Assuring The Safety Of Aging Populations, Linda L. Strong, Dori Taylor Sullivan

Nursing Faculty Publications

Aging is a global phenomenon. It impacts unequally, with this inequality attributable to such factors as gender, culture, education, socioeconomic status and access to primary and preventive care. Access to care and the quality of that care are significantly impacted by governmental support and regulations. Most elderly live in developed countries; however, for a significant number life is not free of stress and struggle to meet basic needs. Elders in developing countries face even more challenges. Natural and man-made disasters increase the vulnerability of these populations through potential disruption of critical services. Currently there is a paucity of health and …