A National Comparison of Rural/Urban Pressure Ulcer and Fall Rates

Despite recent decline in hospital acquired conditions (HACs), rates for pressure ulcers (PURs) and falls (FRs) remain at levels that require improvement. Contextual factors and care processes may impact HACs. Using the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI®) this study examined differences in care processes and community, hospital, and nursing unit characteristics that influence PURs and FRs in 4238 rural and urban nursing units. This article reports on the study methods, noting results that demonstrated differences across all characteristics. The discussion considers the findings and implications in the context of rural or urban location. Many areas identified may be useful to implement multilevel improvement strategies tailored specifically to a rural or urban hospital.