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University of San Francisco

IMPROVING MOBILITY ON THE MEDICAL-SURGICAL UNIT: GET UP AND MOVE

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Abstract</p> <p>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.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> mobility, ambulate, hospital-acquired conditions</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Level thesis:degree_level
Restricted Project/Capstone - USF access only
Year dc:date.available
2017

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Barber, Regina
Contributors dc:contributor
  • June Taylor, MSN, RN, CNL
  • Diane Torkelson, RN, PhD, CNL
  • Elena Capella, EdD, MSN, MPA, RN, CNL, CPHQ, LNCC

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/647
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:repository.usfca.edu:capstone-1681

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of San Francisco
Base URL
repository.usfca.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Barber, Regina. IMPROVING MOBILITY ON THE MEDICAL-SURGICAL UNIT: GET UP AND MOVE. Restricted Project/Capstone - USF access only thesis, 2017. https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/647