Falls have been defined as unintentional descents to the floor, which can be due to a variety of factors such as clinical and environmental factors. Fall rates are calculated as the number of patient falls divided by the number of patient bed days multiplied by 1000. Similaril, injury rates are calculated as the number of injuries due to falls divided by the number of patient bed days multiplied by 1000. Up to 12% of hospitalized patients fall at least once during their hospital stay; falls can lengthen hospital stays and result in poor quality of life, increased costs, admission to a long-term care facility, serious physical injuries, and death. Falls in hospital settings have multiple causes. Ressarch shows that patients who exhibit more of these risk factors are at greater risk of falling than those exhibiting fewer. Risk factors for falling can be classified as intrinsic (e.g., older age, balance disorders, history of falls, decreased vision, altered cognitive status, or history of arthritis, heart attack, stroke, postural blood pressure changes, syncope, dizziness, or chronic lung disease), extrinsic (e.g., polypharmacy and use of certain medications known to increase fall risk [e.g., benzodiazepines, sedatives, neuroleptics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, class I antiarrhythmics, and diuretics]), and environmental (e.g., inadequate lighting, slippery floors, lack of handrails, and inadequate nurse/patient staffing ratio.

Research studies show that fall rates vary by clinical specialty area. One study reported departments such as OB/GYN and Pediatricts having no falls while the highest fall rates are in Med/Surg and skillee nursing units.