Hi all! Quick question! So, I work on a surgical floor and I am almost at the two year mark. I had an interesting discussion with a colleague the other day about how she never, ever ambulates her patient's post op day zero because of their increased risk for bleeding. She said it does not matter what the procedure was it is a big no-no.
But, I have used my nursing discretion all this time and if the patient is ordered "activity as tolerated", pain is well controlled, and what not then I get them to ambulate. Usually just a few steps or even standing up at the side of the bed. And I take into consideration their procedure, if it was something like a TURP, then yeah get walking. A cystectomy, well no I will probably wait until POD 1 to ambulate.
Any thoughts?