Abstract Aims The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify nurse-led clinical interventions evaluated in randomised controlled trials (RCT) for adults who had undergone cardiac surgery. The secondary aim was to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on postoperative clinical and patient-reported outcomes during the acute inpatient phase. Methods temperature management and comfort strategies; pain and symptom management; wound care and infection prevention; respiratory and pulmonary function; and postoperative recovery, mobilisation, and hydration. Across these domains, nurse-led interventions were generally feasible, safe, and positively affected patient comfort, physiological stability, symptom relief, and aspects of functional recovery. Conclusion Nurse-led inpatient interventions contribute meaningfully to in-patient postoperative recovery in cardiac surgery, although the broader cardiac surgical nursing scope is underrepresented in RCT. This review provides a foundation for developing further high-quality research, peer-reviewed interdisciplinary practice guidelines, and strengthening the scope and recognition of cardiac surgical nursing as a distinct specialty.
Matthews et al. (Fri,) studied this question.