In conclusion, early ambulation is extremely beneficial to the postoperative cardiac patient in several ways. Patient’s experience a shorter length of stay, fewer postoperative complications (i.e pneumonia/ deep venous thrombosis), and a fewer readmission rate for a 6-month period. Patients experienced less back pain, vascular complications (like DVT), urinary discomfort, and they had an overall better well-being perception. By shortening the length of stay, we decrease the risk of hospital acquired infections, delirium, and many other hospital acquired issues. Along with physical effects, not ambulating also has psychological effects such as anxiety an depressive mood. Social outcomes such as quality of life were also a component to early ambulation outcomes. This concept is so important to us as nurses because we need to ensure that our patients are ambulating early to prevent the many complications that can occur. In the future,
EARLY AMBULATION POSTOPERATIVE CARDIAC SURGERY 7 …show more content…
For the well being of the hospital and primarily, the patient. The focus of future research should be on possible barriers and interventions for decreasing the time before the first ambulation. It is important for nurses to be cognizant of this because it impacts the well-being and healthiness of our patients and the hospital economy. After cardiac surgery or cardiac catheterization, the body needs all of it’s energy to heal the wound and return back to original or improved functioning. Nurses need to work to fight off any complications that may occur due to not ambulating. These complications can hinder optimal