Special Issue on Evidence-based Nursing: Early Mobilization in ICU

Early mobilization (EM), defined as the implementation of physical activity within the first 2-5 days after a critical illness or injury, is an important part of critical care in improving patient outcomes. EM has been shown to reduce mechanical ventilation duration, intensive care and hospital stay, improve physical function at hospital discharge, and reduce long-term hospital readmission and mortality rates. There is a need for evidence-based studies focusing on the effectiveness of early mobilization and investigating EM performed by experienced nurses in increasing the applicability of EM. The Intensive Care Research is dedicating a special entire issue to EM in ICU, including but not limited to short and long term effects of EM, the effectiveness of intensive care workers in EM, patient and employee safety in EM, mobilization in risky patients (elderly patients, surgery patients, disabled patients, Covid-19 patients, etc.), obstacles to performing EM, complications during mobilization, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of intensive care professionals regarding the early mobilization of critically ill patients, and relevant topics. We welcome reviews, original research, and other types of articles on these topics.