EXPLORING THE ROLE OF EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING PRACTICES IN ENHANCING POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY AND PATIENT SAFETY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Postoperative recovery remains a critical period where patients are vulnerable to complications and prolonged healing. While evidence-based nursing (EBN) practices are advocated to standardize care and improve outcomes, a comprehensive synthesis of their collective impact on postoperative recovery and patient safety is needed.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of evidence-based nursing practices on postoperative recovery metrics and patient safety outcomes in adult patients undergoing elective surgery.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were searched for randomized controlled trials and observational studies published between 2014 and 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on studies comparing structured EBN interventions to usual care. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment using the Cochrane RoB 2 and Newcastle-Ottawa tools. A narrative synthesis was performed.

Results: Eight studies (n=4,217 patients) were included. The evidence consistently demonstrated that EBN practices, such as protocol-driven mobilization and complication-specific care bundles, significantly improved key outcomes. These interventions were associated with a reduced length of hospital stay, lower incidence of major complications including surgical site infections and pneumonia, and decreased 30-day readmission rates. The results were statistically significant across multiple surgical specialties.

Conclusion: The implementation of evidence-based nursing practices is a fundamental and effective strategy for enhancing postoperative recovery and ensuring patient safety. These findings provide a robust justification for the standardization of nursing care around proven protocols. Future research should focus on standardizing intervention definitions and conducting economic evaluations.