Development and application of an ERAS nursing pathway for lung cancer patients following day-surgery

Objectives To develop and implement an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) nursing pathway for lung cancer patients undergoing day surgery, and to evaluate its impact on perioperative nursing compliance, postoperative outcomes, and nurse satisfaction. Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a tertiary-level hospital in Zhejiang Province from September 2021 to March 2022. A total of 671 lung cancer patients and 57 nurses were included. Patients were assigned to either a control group receiving routine perioperative care or a study group managed under an ERAS nursing pathway. The ERAS intervention included structured training, standardized perioperative nursing procedures, and a visual pathway-based guidance system. Key perioperative compliance indicators and clinical outcomes were collected and compared between groups. Results Implementation of the ERAS nursing pathway significantly improved multiple compliance indicators, including preoperative education rate, early postoperative feeding rate, early ambulation rate, elastic stocking usage rate, ankle pump exercise compliance, and breathing training compliance. In addition, postoperative complication rates and delayed discharge rates were reduced in the ERAS group compared with the control group. Nurses reported a high level of satisfaction with the ERAS system. Conclusion The ERAS nursing pathway effectively improves perioperative nursing compliance and postoperative recovery outcomes in lung cancer day-surgery patients, while reducing complications and delayed discharge. It also enhances nursing workflow standardization and staff satisfaction, supporting its clinical value and broader implementation in surgical nursing practice.