Perioperative nursing research. Part VI: Postoperative phase

The universe of knowledge applicable to the nursing care of patients during the postoperative phase is quite diverse. Interpretation of clinical studies requires caution when confounding variables are not controlled. The variety of articles applicable to postoperative nursing care clearly demonstrates the need for nurses to have advanced knowledge in science, particularly physiology, to fully grasp the phenomena occurring in the postoperative patient. Nurse investigators are commended for their research efforts and are encouraged to continue challenging intuitive and traditional clinical nursing practices.