"Preventing Postoperative Complications: A Nursing Care Perspective"

Abstract: Postoperative complications represent a significant concern in surgical nursing care as they directly affect patient recovery, hospital length of stay, and healthcare costs. Nurses are central to preventing such complications because of their continuous involvement in patient care before, during, and after surgery. This article aims to provide an in-depth discussion of postoperative complications, their risk factors, and nursing interventions that can reduce their incidence. The discussion is structured to highlight the phases of care including preoperative preparation, intraoperative vigilance, and postoperative nursing strategies such as infection prevention, respiratory and cardiovascular care, wound management, pain control, mobilization, nutritional support, psychological assistance, and discharge planning. The article emphasizes that evidence-based nursing care, when applied systematically, can significantly reduce complications and enhance patient outcomes.