Dissertation
Enhancing mobility in postoperative patients
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.), Drexel University
16 Mar 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011352
Abstract
Hospitalized postoperative neurosurgical patients are at risk for functional decline related to immobility during hospitalization. Early mobilization is a key component of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathways; however, inconsistent mobility expectations and competing workflow demands within the clinical team often limit adherence to early ambulation practices. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate a standardized, nurse-led mobility protocol designed to improve early ambulation among postoperative neurosurgical patients on a neuroscience medical-surgical unit. Using a Plan-Do-Study-Act improvement framework, the intervention integrated structured mobility expectations into the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery order set, provided staff education, and introduced mobility tracking tools to support documentation and adherence. Pre-intervention data were collected through retrospective chart review and compared with data collected during the implementation phase. Following implementation, postoperative day zero ambulation increased from 45% of eligible patients during the pre-intervention period to 92% during the intervention phase. Retrospective review of pre-intervention data identified three occurrences in which patients ambulated three times and sat in a chair for all meals during a single patient-day, compared with 23 occurrences documented during the intervention phase. These findings suggest that integrating standardized mobility expectations into nursing workflows and reinforcing them through interdisciplinary collaboration can improve early ambulation practices among postoperative neurosurgical patients and support broader adoption of early mobility protocols across inpatient surgical settings.
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Details
- Title
- Enhancing mobility in postoperative patients
- Creators
- Diane Latham
- Contributors
- Barbara Ruth Osborne (DNP Chair) - Drexel University, Nurse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctoral Nursing; Nursing (Graduate); College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022180202704721