Understanding Frailty in Surgical Care: A Phenomenological Study of Newly Graduated Nurses’ Perspectives and Clinical Approaches

This study aimed to explore newly graduated nurses’ perceptions and clinical approaches toward frailty in surgical patients and to identify their educational requirements and structural support needs for professional development in this area. A phenomenological qualitative design was used. In-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 newly graduated nurses working in four surgical specialties (orthopedics, general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and neurosurgery) across five tertiary hospitals in hospitals in İstanbul. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify themes and subthemes. Data were collected between April and July 2025. Six themes were identified: (1) perceptions and definitions of frailty, (2) recognition of frailty’s clinical importance, (3) care needs of frail patients, (4) clinical complexity and adaptive (non-standardized) practice, (5) institutional gaps in frailty management, and (6) educational and workforce support needs. Participants often understood frailty in lay terms rather than clinical ones, yet recognized its impact on delayed recovery, higher complication risk, and psychosocial vulnerability. Newly graduated nurses perceive frailty as a notable determinant of surgical outcomes but lack the knowledge, tools, and institutional support to address it systematically. Incorporating frailty-focused education into undergraduate curricula and orientation programs may enhance early identification. Standardized screening and multidisciplinary collaboration are needed to strengthen frailty-sensitive nursing practice and improve outcomes for surgical patients.