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Kathryn Curtin, RN, BSN, and Shannon Walters, RN, BSN, from MedStar Washington Hospital Center presented “Follow the Blue Feet: Nurse Implemented Post-operative MOBILITY Program” at the 2017 MedStar Health Research Symposium. The abstract poster was awarded the most outstanding scientific abstract at the event, selected from the over 400 abstracts submitted to the Symposium.
The poster highlighted the evaluation and effectiveness of a nurse-led post-operative MOBILITY program that was implemented at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center Burn Center. The program’s goal was to increase the understanding for patients and nurses the importance of post-operative movement in the recovery process and in tandem increase patient satisfaction with mobility.
The program was implemented in a 24-bed unit, with nursing staff completing both pre- and post-surveys. The program launched with several components, including nursing education on the program and assessment tools, placing mobility reminders in each patient room, and addressing mobility education during daily huddles on the unit. In addition, blue footprint stickers were placed in the unit hallways every ten feet, in order to empower patients with visual markers and to aid in nurse evaluations of patient mobility.
According to the poster, based on data collected, the objectives were achieved and showed a clear increase with significant percent changes: 233% change in the documentation of patient mobility, 60% change in patient satisfaction, 38.5% change in mobility assessment and 166.7% in patient mobility education.
The work was completed as part of the RN Residency Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, advised by Hephzibah Sophie Edwin MSN, RN-BC.
