Nurses’ Role In Prevention Of Hospital Admissions Among Long-Term Care Patients: A Systematic Review Of The Literature

Abstract

The number of Americans in long-term care (LTC) facilities is growing rapidly. The average lifespan is increasing, and the baby boomer generation is aging. This puts stress on both LTC facilities as well as hospitals (McAndrew, Grabowski, Dangi, & Young, 2015). In order for the healthcare system to run efficiently, all healthcare providers need to be aware of this issue. Methods to prevent potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAH) should be available for nurses. This systematic review of the literature discusses the current literature about possible prevention methods. This review includes articles that identify the major causes of PAH as well as articles that explore different ways to minimize them. Many LTC residents require care in a hospital setting from time to time, and some more frequently than others. The term “potentially avoidable hospitalization” is used to categorize a required hospitalization that could have been avoided (McAndrew et al., 2015). Whether from a fall, a medication error, an infectious process, or another avoidable cause, such hospitalizations have negative impacts on the patient and are a huge expense for healthcare (Walsh et al., 2012). Some LTC patients are admitted to the hospital repeatedly, and sometimes for the same problem. Proper planning and care from nurses and other healthcare providers can lower the number of PAH this population experiences. This article reviews tools and techniques available for nurses so they will be aware of such methods. Additional research, including more randomized controlled trials, are needed since this is a rising issue in healthcare and there is currently no golden standard for nursing practice in this area.