Smarter Staffing, Safer Patients: Reducing Falls Through Staggered Shift Design

Publication Date

Spring 2026

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing

Department

Nursing, School of

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Linda Wofford

Presentation Type

Gallery

Summary

Implementing a staggered shift start time for patient care technicians to arrive thirty minutes earlier than nurses will reduce inpatient falls. This adjustment will maintain continuous patient surveillance during high risk shift change periods without affecting shift differentials or overall staffing costs. Evidence indicates that the hours of 0600–0800 and 1800–2000 are particularly vulnerable times for falls due to decreased supervision during handoff communication, medication administration, and morning and evening care routines (Khalil et al., 2025). Increasing staff presence during these transition periods will reduce gaps in observation, improve response time to patient needs, and enhance overall patient safety outcomes. Staggered shifts improve nursing quality, teamwork, and job satisfaction compared to traditional scheduling models because of strengthened coverage and communication during handoffs (Lishan et al., 2021). During the six month implementation, leaders will begin the initial month with staff engagement, education, and gathering feedback to promote collaboration and staff satisfaction. Volunteers from the unit will pilot the staggered schedule. In month two, at the start of the new scheduling cycle, the staggered start time will be implemented for volunteers to ensure a smooth transition. Months three through six will serve as a stabilization period, with regular manager check-ins and workflow monitoring. Fall rates will be tracked and compared to the six months prior. If a 25% reduction in falls per 1000 patient days is achieved, the intervention will be recommended for hospital-wide adoption.

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