Do you ambulate your patients with PCA

As long as the patient is alert - why not? I would mobilize a patient on a pca if there were no other contract indications

Yes absolutely ambulate! There is a really good thread on ambulating in the early post-op period that might have some additional information for you :)

My only concern would be fall risk (dizziness as a possible side effect of the pain medication), so I would definitely only allow my patient to ambulate with a staff member, and would use a gait belt.

Thanks for the input. I agree with both of you.

When I started nursing it seemed like EVERY post op (and even pre op if in pain) got a PCA pump. I'm going back to just after 2000, so things have definitely changed, but it was so frequent that we didn't even give it a second thought. If they weren't up the day of surgery then they were definitely out in the hallway walking by the next morning (typical abdominal surgeries anyway). Then again, back then the same patient used walking as a way to get to the elevator to go downstairs to smoke outside. It would be a cold day in hell before that would happen now. The only thing that may be an issue to consider is a possible fall risk as someone mentioned earlier.

I work PP and often times our patients have a PCA pump for 24 hours. Many nurses leave them on bed rest for the duration of the PCA. Back in my ICU days I never remember PCA being a contraindication to not allow a patient to get oob. Thoughts?

I agree with over 45.5 years critical care experience...

When I started nursing it seemed like EVERY post op (and even pre op if in pain) got a PCA pump. I'm going back to just after 2000, so things have definitely changed, but it was so frequent that we didn't even give it a second thought. If they weren't up the day of surgery then they were definitely out in the hallway walking by the next morning (typical abdominal surgeries anyway). Then again, back then the same patient used walking as a way to get to the elevator to go downstairs to smoke outside. It would be a cold day in hell before that would happen now. The only thing that may be an issue to consider is a possible fall risk as someone mentioned earlier.

I agree, except for me I did go outside with a shoulder replacement..... Nurses do not make the best patients