Nursing care plan for mobility

Introduction to Mobility Nursing Care Plan

Mobility is the ability to move from one place to another or from one activity to another, setting the goal of nursing is to improve and preserve the functional mobility of a patient. Through the implementation of a nursing care plan, nurses are empowered to create resources that help individuals gain independence with their mobilities.

Assessment

Current Mobility Functioning: The patient's present mobility functioning will be assessed by the nurse. Notes can include information like the patient's ability to ambulate, transfer, position change, and bear weight.

Risk Factors: Risk factors associated with decreased mobilization must also be taken into consideration. Examples include physical, medical, psychological and environmental factors that may impede the patient’s movements or cause limitations to mobility.

Nursing Diagnosis

Based on the assessments made, the nurse can begin to establish a Nursing Diagnosis. Common Nursing Diagnoses related to impaired mobility can include:

• Impaired Physical Mobility Related to Neuropathy
• Impaired Physical Mobility Related to Osteoarthritis
• Altered Transfer Performance Related to Pain
• Body Image Disturbance Related to Limited Mobility
• At Risk for Injury Related to Balance Deficit

Outcomes

The goal of the nursing care plan is to achieve specific outcomes for the patient. Examples of outcomes related to mobility may include improved ambulation, increased transfer performance, lessened pain and discomfort, improved body image and reduced risks of injury.

Interventions

Once the Nursing Diagnosis has been established, the nurse will devise a plan of Action. This plan will contain actions that will take place to help the patient achieve the agreed upon outcomes. Interventions can include prescribing assistive devices, positioning methods, exercise, stretching and relaxation techniques.The nurse should also assess any potential risks to mobility or accidents during interventions.

Rationales

To each intervention included in the nursing care plan, a Rationale must be presented. This outlines why each intervention has chosen and what reasonable expectations there could be from its implementation. It can also be used to remind the patient of the importance of completing the activities.

Evaluation

At the end of the plan, the nurse will evaluate the outcomes achieved by the patient. This will be done through analytical comparison between goals and premises or stances during the previous assessment and the current evaluation. If a desired outcome has not been met, modifications to the plan can be discussed.

Conclusion

An effective nursing care plan related to mobility allows nurses to implement solutions that will responsibly support patients in attaining their goals and develop healthier habits. Through analyzing current functioning, predicting risks, establishing a clear diagnosis, making plans of action, evaluating outcomes and making adjustments when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does a nursing care plan help patients regain mobility?
  A nursing care plan helps patients to regain their mobility through various interventions like providing assistive devices, positioning methods, exercises and educating them on how to make better lifestyle choices.
• What environmental factors can affect mobility?
  Environmental factors such as obstacles in a room, poor lighting and uneven surfaces can affect mobility.
• What kind of exercises can improve mobility?
  Exercises like stretching, strength training, and aerobic exercises can improve mobility.
• How can a nurse assess a patient's ability to transfer?
  For assessing a patient's ability to transfer, the nurse should assess the patient’s strength, balance, range of motion, coordination and ambulation.
• What types of interventions are suitable for improving mobility?
  Interventions like prescribing assistive devices, positioning methods, exercise, stretching and relaxation techniques are suitable for improving mobility.