Question

After the implementation of a well-researched fall prevention protocol, patients at the agency have a lower incidence of falls than the national average. Which term will the nurse use to describe this finding?

Answer 1

The nurse would use the term 'benchmarking' to describe the outcome of a lower incidence of falls compared to the national average as a result of a well-implemented fall prevention protocol.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing the outcome of a fall prevention protocol that has resulted in a lower incidence of falls compared to the national average, the nurse would likely use the term 'benchmarking' to describe this finding. Benchmarking is a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed. In this context, it is used to compare the incidence rate of falls at the agency with the national average, which signifies that the implemented protocol is effective in reducing falls amongst patients. This term is supported by evidence, such as successful implementation of protocols and interventions in healthcare settings that lead to improved outcomes and can also be found in studies that show the reduction of disease incidence or infection rate through application of specific methods.