Date of Graduation

Spring 5-15-2025

Document Access

Restricted Project/Capstone - USF access only

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department/Program

Public Health

Program

Kaiser cohort MSN capstone

First Advisor

Jennifer Zesati

Second Advisor

Chelsea Reilley

Third Advisor

Robert Patterson

Abstract

Objective: Daily mobility goals were not being consistently met in two cardiac units at a San Francisco hospital. Literature reviews support early mobility as a critical component of patient recovery. Some barriers identified included inconsistent documentation of mobility status and activity and limited staff awareness of mobility protocols. Aim: This quality improvement project aimed to increase cardiac patient ambulation rates by 20% and achieve at least 80% documentation compliance with Prior Levels of Function (PLOF) and Current Levels of Function (CLOF) assessments within four weeks. Methods: The team used the 5Ps framework to define the project scope and applied SWOT and Cause and Effect analyses to identify root causes of low patient mobility. Interventions consisted of four components: staff education utilizing an educational flyer on mobility tools, a pre- and post-survey to assess knowledge gains, as well as an audit tool. Results: Documentation compliance and patient mobility goal achievement improved by over 25% across both units. Unit A achieved full documentation compliance, while Unit B’s patient mobility goal attainment increased from 54% to 80%. Additionally, 30% of staff scored full marks on the post-survey, compared to 0% before the intervention, indicating improved understanding of mobility protocols. Conclusions: This project demonstrates that simple, targeted educational interventions can significantly enhance patient documentation and improve patient mobility outcomes. Standardized tools like PLOF and CLOF, combined with staff training, are effective strategies for promoting high-quality care in cardiac units.

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