Objective To explore the feasibility and effect of process management by a rehabilitation nursing team for early mobilization of ICU patients after cardiac surgery. Methods ICU patients after cardiac surgery were divided into a contro group of 158 cases and an intervention group of 127 cases based on the admission time. The control group was subjected to routine in-bed exercise, while the intervention group was managed by a rehabilitation nursing team, who was responsible for whole course rehabilitation and quality control, and formulated an early stepwise and progressive mobilization process. Results The intervention group took shorter time to achieve out-of-bed mobilizatipon, had shorter ICU stay，and post-operative hospital stay than the controls (P<0.05,P＜0.01). The intervention group also had higher muscle strength at ICU discharge than after the surgery (P＜0.01). Conclusion Rehabilitation process management for ICU patients after cardiac surgery can promote recovery of patients.