Introduction

Today, as the number and intricacy of surgical procedures performed increases, the nurse must remain up-to-date with best practice standards to achieve quality patient care. The perioperative specialization was recognized in nursing prior to 1889; however, the first documented reference is found in the appendix of the text Notes on Nursing by Florence Nightingale, which states, “The surgical nurse must always be alert, always on guard, against the lack of cleanliness, musty air, lack of light” (Salazar Maya, 2022, para. 2). Perioperative describes the time frame surrounding surgery encompassing the time between going to the facility, having the procedure, and then returning home afterward. This chapter discusses the last phase of perioperative nursing: postoperative care.