POSTOPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT AND THE ROLE OF THE NURSE PROFESSIONAL - INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The management of postoperative pain is an essential component of perioperative care, impacting significantly the patient`s recovery and quality of life. The pain that follows a surgical procedure not only causes discomfort but can also lead to additional complications, such as extended hospital stays, and even the development of chronic pain. Therefore, this study had as its purpose to survey scientific productions regarding methods of pain assessment and management, as well as nursing assistance in the postoperative period. It involved an integrative literature review carried out through the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and Google Scholar database, conducted in July 2024, totaling 11 scientific articles. The results found in this study highlighted the following thematic areas: "Pain Management / Postoperative Pain Assessment" (3 articles), "Pharmacological Interventions for Pain Relief" (4 articles), and "Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Pain Relief" (4 articles). In conclusion, postoperative pain is a challenge faced by patients that undergo surgical procedures, affecting their recovery and quality of life, thus showing the importance of multidisciplinary involvement, professional training, a multimodal analgesia approach, and the customization of perioperative protocols, in order to promote the well-being of patients and reduction of the risks associated with postoperative pain.