Evaluation of a Progressive Mobility Protocol in Postoperative Cardiothoracic Surgical Patients.

Cardiothoracic surgical patients are at high risk for complications related to immobility, such as increased intensive care and hospital length of stay, intensive care unit readmission, pressure ulcer development, and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolus. A progressive mobility protocol was started in the thoracic cardiovascular intensive care unit in a rural academic medical center. The purpose of the progressive mobility protocol was to increase mobilization of postoperative patients and decrease complications related to immobility in this unique patient population.

Developing a mobility protocol for early mobilization of patients in a surgical/trauma ICU.

As technology and medications have improved and increased, survival rates are also increasing in intensive care units (ICUs), so it is now important to focus on improving the patient outcomes and recovery. To do this, ICU patients need to be assessed and started on an early mobility program, if stable. While the early mobilization of the ICU patients is not without risk, the current literature has demonstrated that patients can be safely and feasibly mobilized, even while requiring mechanical ventilation.

Critical care nursing expertise during air transport.

The purpose of this study was to describe the practical knowledge possessed by registered nurses that are part of the Air Force's Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) and distinguish salient features of CCATT knowledge to critical care nursing in the hospital. This research study used descriptive, exploratory methods. Twelve CCATT nurses, identified as experts, were included in the study.