Nurses’ Knowledge And Practice Regarding Early Ambulation To Prevent Postoperative Complications

Background:  Early ambulation is a crucial postoperative nursing intervention that significantly reduces complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary infections, and prolonged hospital stays. Nurses play a vital role in encouraging and implementing early mobilization to enhance patient recovery. However, their knowledge and practices regarding early ambulation vary, affecting patient outcomes. Objective:  This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding early ambulation to prevent postoperative complications and identify barriers to its implementation. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 91 nurses working in surgical wards, ICUs, and general wards of a tertiary care hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge, and practice related to early ambulation. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The findings revealed that 81.3% of nurses correctly identified that early ambulation should begin within 24 hours post-surgery. The majority (70.3%) recognized its benefits in preventing thrombosis, improving gastrointestinal motility, and reducing pulmonary complications. However, only 79.1% consistently encouraged early ambulation, and 46.2% documented patient progress. Barriers to implementation included workload constraints (23.1%), inadequate staffing (27.5%), and patient-related factors (24.2%). Conclusion:  Although nurses demonstrated adequate knowledge of early ambulation, gaps remain in its consistent practice due to systemic and patient-related barriers. Continuous education, institutional support, and workload management strategies are essential to improve adherence to early ambulation practices and enhance postoperative patient outcomes