Towards Improving Hospital Workflows: An Evaluation of Resources to Mobilize Patients

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-16-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Nursing Management

First page number:

1

Last page number:

8

Abstract

Aim To characterize resources to safely mobilize different types of hospitalized patients. Background Current approaches to determine nurse–patient ratios do not always include information regarding the specific demands of patients who require extra resources to mobilize. Workflows must be designed with knowledge of resource requirements to integrate patient mobility into the daily nursing team care plan. Methods Nurse‐led mobility sessions were evaluated on two adult hospital units, which consisted of nurse–patient encounters focused on patient mobility only. The resources assessed for each session were time‐to‐mobilize patient, time‐to‐document, need for additional staff support, and the need for assistive devices. Mobility sessions were also categorized by patient ambulation status, level of mobility limitations (low, medium and high) and diagnosis. Results In 212 total mobility sessions, the median time‐to‐mobilize and time‐to‐document were 7.75 and 1.27 min, respectively. Additional staff support was required for 87% and 92% of patients with medium and high mobility limitations, respectively. All patients with low mobility limitations ambulated, and only 14% required additional staff. Ambulating patients with high mobility limitations was the most time‐intensive (median 12.55 min). Ambulating stroke patients required one additional staff and an assistive device in 92% and 69% of the sessions, respectively. Conclusion This study describes the resources associated with mobilizing inpatients with different levels of mobility impairments and diagnoses.

Keywords

Exercise; Functional status; Health resources; Mobility limitation; Mobilization

Disciplines

Nursing | Nursing Administration

Language

English

UNLV article access

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