I work on a purely cold orthopaedic ward and generally speaking the nursing
staf are very good at mobilising patients - often before we get a chance to
see them! We have very few catheterised patients and those which are are
usually TWOCed as soon as possible to cut down the risk of infection. Ones
which do progress mobility wise before being TWOCed eg are ready to try
elbow crutches or sticks can be held back. If this situation lasts, these
are usually patients who have or develop some urological problem either
temporarily or more permanently, I too encourage the use of leg bags but it
usually only occurs with prompting of the nursing staff. Why they don't come
up with they idea themselves i don't know - purhaps it is lack of experience
in using them.
As far as the culture of physios are the ones who mobilise - I find that
physio assistants are wonderful for the routine THR and TKR mobility
patients and so freeing up the qualified staff time to treat the more
complex issues.
As an aside - I always find walking to and from the loo is a better
incentive for the patients than walking up and down the ward for the sake of
it!
Alison Dakin
Leicester General Hospital
England
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