Research-based practice: early ambulation for PTCA patients.
Nursing practice based on clinical research is essential for defending nursing as a profession and for ensuring high quality, cost-effective, and innovative care. A recent study involving the care of patients experiencing a coronary angioplasty has had an impact on the nursing practice in a large tertiary care institution. A convenience sample of 85 patients admitted for a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were randomly assigned to either the control group, who remained on 8 hours of bedrest post sheath removal, or the experimental group who remained on only 6 hours of bedrest post sheath removal. At 2 hour intervals data were collected regarding pain, bleeding, and hematoma formation. Patients who ambulated at 6 hours experienced significantly less discomfort and no increase in bleeding or hematoma formation. In this institution patients are now able to ambulate 6 hours after the sheaths have been removed post PTCA.
Price
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Fowlow
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D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing*; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D004434:Early Ambulation; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic