The postoperative period is a critical phase that covers the physical and psychological recovery process of patients following surgical intervention. During this period, patients face many challenges such as treatment compliance, pain management and complication risks. Effective management of the recovery process is directly related to patient motivation and active participation. In this context, gamification is increasingly used in health education to increase patient engagement and make treatment processes more effective. By adapting game dynamics to the health context, gamification contributes positively to patients' processes of acquiring information, adhering to treatment and maintaining lifestyle changes.

By using gamified educational strategies in the postoperative period, surgical nurses can increase patient engagement and motivation, thus supporting the recovery process. Clinical studies show that gamification is effective in shortening recovery time, reducing complications and increasing patient satisfaction. Moreover, the psychological effects of gamification support patients' intrinsic motivation, reducing anxiety levels and strengthening treatment adherence. Wearable technologies, artificial intelligence and personalized gamification systems offer significant future opportunities to make patient education more accessible and effective.

However, challenges such as technology integration and equality of access need to be overcome. Multidisciplinary research and the development of appropriate educational programs are essential for gamification to realize its full potential in healthcare. This chapter comprehensively examines the role of surgical nurses in improving postoperative patient outcomes by integrating gamification into patient education.