Background: Hospital associated disability has been linked to prolonged and inappropriate mobility. Ambulating hospitalized patients can improve outcomes, but this practice is often overlooked by nurs..
Background: Hospital associated disability has been linked to prolonged and inappropriate mobility. Ambulating hospitalized patients can improve outcomes, but this practice is often overlooked by nurses who have competing priorities. Local Problem: At Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center after conducting an interview with frontline staff there were revealed gaps in knowledge of progressive mobility protocols/assessment, completing priorities, and perception around a lack of assistance to mobilize complex patients. Additionally, a random sample audit of 100 charts only revealed 10% of patients with any mobility documented. Methods: This is a quality improvement initiative that utilized a prospective design and took place on two medical-surgical units during January – March 2022. The purpose was to examine the impact of a mobility technician (MT) coupled with education on mobility protocols have on patient mobility and hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) rates. The project plan included education for all frontline staff around organizational progressive mobility protocols, comprehensive mobility assessment tool, and mobility documentation prior to implementation. Patients admitted to MS 2 would work with the MT while on MS 1 there was no MT. The outcomes measured were total distance ambulated in feet and whether patient developed HAP. Results/Conclusion: The sample included 120 patients that met eligibility criteria, 60 from each medical surgical unit. The results demonstrated there was an increased distance in feet ambulated, increased ambulation frequency, and increased ambulation from all other job roles on MS 2 which had the MT. After an independent t-test was conducted on mean distance traveled between patients on MS 1 and MS 2 there was a statistical significance (t(64.26)=7.22, p
Hwang Granada H, Reitz OE, Lemke J. Improving patient mobility-A great move! Quality Improvement poster presented at Nursing Passion: Re-Igniting the Art & Science, Advocate Aurora Health Nursing & Re..
Hwang Granada H, Reitz OE, Lemke J. Improving patient mobility-A great move! Quality Improvement poster presented at Nursing Passion: Re-Igniting the Art & Science, Advocate Aurora Health Nursing & Research Conference 2022; November 9, 2022; virtual.