Final answer:
A nursing assistant should guide the fall in a controlled manner to ensure both the resident's and assistant's safety, rather than trying to catch the resident to stop the fall. Techniques and protocols exist to prevent further injury, and recognizing symptoms using the FAST mnemonic can be crucial in case of a medical emergency.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a resident begins to fall, the primary responsibility of a nursing assistant or any bystander is not to try to catch the resident to stop the fall, as well-meaning as that instinct may be. There are specific protocols and techniques to follow that ensure both the safety of the resident and the nursing assistant. Contrary to what some may think, catching the resident can sometimes do more harm than good, as it may result in injury to both parties involved.
Instead, the procedure involves the nursing assistant guiding the fall in a controlled manner if possible, protecting the resident's head, and lowering them to the floor gently. Once the resident is safely on the ground, the assistant should check for injuries and then seek help from other staff members to safely lift the resident back into a supported position or to administer any necessary emergency procedures if the fall was due to a medical event, such as a seizure or stroke. The FAST mnemonic (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) provides a quick reference for recognizing stroke symptoms. Moreover, understanding the bystander effect is crucial in emergency situations. Proper training in fall prevention and response is critical to ensure that all actions taken are in the best interest of the person's health and safety.