Abstract

Surgical wounds represent a common source of postoperative morbidity, contributing to prolonged hospital stays, increased health care costs, and diminished patient quality of life. Nursing care is pivotal across the continuum from intra operative preparation to community discharge yet practice variation persists despite robust clinical guidelines. This paper synthesizes current evidence (2010 2024) regarding assessment, prevention of infection, dressing selection, pain management, and education in surgical wound nursing care. A systematic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and WHO/ CDC guideline repositories identified 112 peer reviewed studies, of which 68 met inclusion criteria for quantitative synthesis. Findings underscore the superiority of multimodal strategies that combine aseptic technique, risk stratified prophylaxis, advanced moist healing dressings, and patient centered education. Gaps remain in standardizing outcome metrics, integrating tele health follow up, and tailoring interventions for high risk populations such as diabetics and the immunocompromised. Recommendations for clinical practice, policy, and future research are presented.

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