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Nursing vocabulary · Basic Care and Mobility

Mobilize

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˈmoʊbəlaɪz/verbCommon term

In nursing, mobilize means: To get a patient moving by sitting up, standing or walking, especially after an operation or a period in bed.

In Turkish: mobilize etmek, ayağa kaldırmak, yürütmek

How it is used

Spelled 'mobilise' in British English. Used both for what the nurse does ('We mobilised him to the chair') and for the patient ('She is mobilising with a frame', 'independently mobile'). Physiotherapists set the plan and nurses help patients move during the day. Early mobilisation after surgery is common practice.

Example sentences

  1. He mobilised to the bathroom with one nurse this morning.

  2. We'll try to mobilise you a few hours after the operation.

Common collocations

  • mobilise with a frame
  • mobilise independently
  • early mobilisation
  • mobilise to the chair
  • fall riskHow likely a patient is to fall, judged from things like age, medicines, confusion, poor balance or earlier falls.
  • repositionTo change the position of a patient in bed or in a chair, to relieve pressure on the skin, make them comfortable or help their breathing.
  • hoistA piece of lifting equipment with a fabric sling, used to move a patient who cannot stand, for example from the bed to a chair.
  • personal careHelp with the everyday tasks of looking after the body, such as washing, dressing, using the toilet, mouth care and shaving.

More terms: Basic Care and Mobility

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.