How to Try This is a collaborative project of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU's College of Nursing and the American Journal of Nursing. Two topics from the Hartford Institute's Try This series will be made available each month through December 2008 in cost-free, Web-based resources including demonstration videos and companion articles in the AJN. These resources are designed to build knowledge and assessment skills among those caring for older adults.

The videos are approximately 30 minutes, or less, and can be viewed in their entirety--or in chaptered formats when time is an issue and a quick refresher on assessments or best practices is needed. Beyond demonstrating assessments, videos also provide viewers with tips on how to deal with challenges faced when administering various assessments; interdisciplinary approaches to dealing with problems; and best practices in communicating and utilizing findings to inform patients, families, and the plan of care. This series can be viewed, downloaded, and shared without any fees.  Articles include detail on the issue addressed by the Try This tool, case studies, psychometric properties of the tool, and describe when and how to use the assessment. Information in the articles is also organized for ready access by novice to expert clinicians. Articles may be printed and copied for educational use without copyright fees.

CEs available for both the articles and the videos.

August 2008
To read or view the articles and videos featured this month, go to:
www.NursingCenter.com/AJNolderadults
and click the How to Try This link

American Journal of Nursing
How to Try This: Predicting Pressure Ulcer Risk
Nancy A. Stotts EdD, RN, FAAN
Lena Gunningberg PhD, RN 

Pressure ulcers are a serious concern in caring for older adults in all settings. In addition to being painful and expensive to treat, they can significantly compromise a patient's mental, emotional, and social well-being. The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk assesses a patient's risk of developing these ulcers so that those judged to be at risk can receive preventive care. The scale consists of six subscales and can be completed in just one minute.

   For a free online video demonstrating the use of this tool, go to http://links.lww.com/A106 . This video includes a demonstration of the Braden Scale assessment, as well as skin assessment, and explains how the Braden Scale assessment helps nurses to identify and target interventions to prevent ulcer formation, as well as to more effectively treat those already present. Viewers will also observe discussion and interpretation of an assessment which will clarify the specific subscales included in the Braden Scale tool.

American Journal of Nursing
How to Try This: Predicting Patient Falls 
Ann Hendrich MSN, RN, FAAN 

The Hendrich II Fall Risk Model is used to assess a hospitalized patient's risk of falling. Designed to be administered quickly, it focuses on eight independent risk factors: confusion, disorientation, and impulsivity; symptomatic depression; altered elimination; dizziness or vertigo; male sex; administration of antiepileptics (or changes in dosage or cessation); administration of benzodiazepines; and poor performance in rising from a seated position in the Get-Up-and-Go test.

   For a free online video demonstrating the use of this tool, go to http://links.lww.com/A111. This video demonstrates the Hendrich II Fall Risk assessment and unique considerations that will guide users in both the administration and interpretation of the assessment. Also discussed are interventions critical to the prevention of falls once assessments have been completed. Ann Hendrich discusses research which has helped to distill the myriad contributing factors—including medications--- to the eight included in this model.