2023 Volume 19 Pages 144-156
The purpose of this study was to clarify nursing practices characteristic of the perioperative period for promoting recovery after gastrointestinal surgery. A survey was performed by semi-structured interviews about nursing practice in five nurses based on the five aspects of comfort, emotion, physical independence, support for patients, and pain.
As a result, five categories, including “Perioperative anxiety relief” and “Education for proactive postoperative behavior of patients,” were obtained as preoperative nursing practices. Seven categories, including “Understanding postoperative discomfort and providing comfort,” “Reducing postoperative pain,” and “Help getting out of bed early and identifying activity expansion,” were obtained as nursing practices immediately after surgery to postoperative day 1. Six categories, including “Help getting out of bed for ADL independence” and “Continuous postoperative pain management,” were obtained as the nursing practices for postoperative days 2-3. Five categories, including “Continuous psychological support” and “Patient-centered discharge support for self-care,” were obtained as the nursing practices for postoperative days 5-6. Nursing practices that promote postoperative recovery can be expected to improve further by accumulating practical knowledge, respecting patients’ individuality, managing safety, and strengthening cooperation.
