Morse Fall Scale
- Health & Life Sciences -
Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary
Definition
A clinical assessment concept defining how health status is measured, interpreted, and tracked to support timely care decisions. It governs observation, measurement, documentation, and escalation criteria used to identify needs and changes in condition. It does not establish a diagnosis by itself and requires appropriate clinical correlation and follow-up actions to be effective.
Morse Fall Scale
Health & Life Sciences Dictionary
Definition
A clinical risk‑screening instrument that estimates an inpatient’s short‑term risk of falling by scoring predefined factors—such as history of falling, presence of secondary diagnoses, use of ambulatory aids, intravenous therapy/heparin lock, gait/transferring, and mental status—into a summed value used to stratify fall risk and guide preventive measures.