A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EARLY MOBILITY PROTOCOL IN THE POST-OPERATIVE CARDIAC RECOVERY UNIT ON REDUCING LENGTH OF STAY AMONG CARDIAC SURGERY PATIENTS

Author Name: Mrs. Meenakshi K

Volume: 03/02

Country: India

DOI NO.: 11.2023-61555522 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/02.2026-76582616/GIJNR

Affiliation:

1. Ph.D Scholar, Associate Professor, Tehmi Grant Institute of Nursing Education, Pune, Maharashtra.

ABSTRACT

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, necessitating increasing numbers of cardiac surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and valve replacement. Although surgical advancements have significantly improved survival outcomes, delayed post-operative recovery due to prolonged immobility remains a persistent clinical concern. Prolonged bed rest contributes to pulmonary complications, muscle deconditioning, venous thromboembolism, functional decline, and extended length of stay in cardiac recovery units. Early mobility protocols have emerged as evidence-based nursing interventions aimed at accelerating physiological stabilization and reducing recovery duration. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured early mobility protocol in reducing the length of stay among post-operative cardiac surgery patients admitted to a cardiac recovery unit. Methods: A quantitative quasi-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was employed. The study was conducted in the post-operative cardiac recovery unit of a tertiary care hospital. Thirty adult post-operative cardiac surgery patients were selected using purposive sampling. Baseline length of stay was recorded during routine care. A structured early mobility protocol was implemented by trained nursing personnel. Post-intervention length of stay was measured and compared using paired t-test. Associations between demographic variables and length of stay were analyzed using chi-square test. Results: The mean length of stay during routine care was 4.8 ± 0.9 days, which reduced significantly to 3.1 ± 0.7 days following implementation of the early mobility protocol (t = 8.42, p < 0.05). No statistically significant association was observed between length of stay and demographic variables such as age and gender. Conclusion: The structured early mobility protocol significantly reduced the length of stay in the cardiac recovery unit. Early mobilization is a safe, feasible, and cost-effective nursing-led intervention that enhances post-operative recovery and improves health system efficiency.

Key words: Early mobility, Cardiac surgery, Length of stay, Post-operative recovery, Nursing intervention, Cardiac recovery unit