Ward nurses’ experience of enhanced recovery after surgery: a grounded theory approach

Many studies looking at enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) examine the clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction of the programme. This article reports on the findings of a qualitative study employing a grounded theory approach to explore the experiences of ward nurses involved in the postoperative stage of the ERAS programme with colorectal patients. Data were collected in 2012 using semistructured interviews. The basic social process that emerged from the analysis describes how ward nurses adapted their delivery of care in order to meet patient need. This process also explains why variance in individual patient recovery, lack of resources, and an inconsistent adherence to protocols necessitated the adapting of the ERAS nursing-care protocol. ERAS can provide a framework for nurses to deliver care but protocol-led care can have limitations. This study also developed the theory of adaptation, which describes how ward nurses adapt in certain situations to deliver care.