Research shows that early mobilization of hospitalized patients leads to improved patient outcomes as well as reduced occurrences of hospital-acquired conditions (HACs). Project "Get Up and Move" aims to improve mobility while minimizing the effects prolonged immobility or lack thereof. The medsurg unit is a 25-bed unit housed in a 60-bed facility on two floors, with a maximum capacity of 19 patients on the third floor and five patients on the fourth floor. Sixty percent of the patient population are elderly with multiple chronic diseases. A needs assessment survey showed, 89% of nursing staff rarely ambulated their patients according to physician's orders compared to 11% of nursing staff who stated that they sometimes ambulate patients according to orders. To mitigate these circumstances, a standard operating procedure (SOP) was created. The SOP specifies how and at what times patients are to be assisted out bed, provided range of motion exercises, and turned while in bed. Nursing staff received an in-service on project "Get Up and Move". Kotter's eight-step change theory was used to implement change. Direct observation along with a post-test survey shows notable improvement.
Barber, Regina, "IMPROVING MOBILITY ON THE MEDICAL-SURGICAL UNIT: GET UP AND MOVE" (2017). Master's Projects and Capstones. 647.