Question
Is nursing receptive to occupational therapy balance training and inservices?
Answer
Yes, generally speaking, they are receptive. I am just going to tell you what I have experienced. Oftentimes, there is just not enough time in the day to do a lot of the things that we are asking them to do. Our interventions need to be as simple as possible so that they can be followed. I think the most important thing is to celebrate success with our nurses because while they are happy to listen, they totally get it when you talk them through the process.
I think if you can show them and demonstrate to them that this patient is not going to be a fall risk anymore or their falls are reduced by 50%, then there is not as much burden of care on the nurse. They are much more receptive to it. Of course, you are always going to have somebody who is not as receptive, but in 20 plus years, I would struggle to identify somebody who has not been willing to work with me. Again, as long as you approach it from a team perspective, that goes pretty well.
