The ERAS Protocol: Faster, Safer Surgical Recovery
Course Overview
This episode introduces listeners to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, exploring its origin, guiding principles, and the rationale behind its evidence-based practices. Listeners will gain an understanding of how ERAS differs from traditional surgical care pathways and the ways in which it improves patient outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in successful ERAS implementation.
Building on foundational knowledge, this episode examines how ERAS principles are integrated across the perioperative continuum—from patient education and nutrition to multimodal analgesia and early mobilization. Real-world examples from clinical settings will illustrate how nurses and other healthcare providers can implement ERAS strategies to reduce complications, shorten hospital stays, and improve patient satisfaction.
Listen, Learn, and Earn CE Hours with this podcast course. Available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Identify the objectives and core components of the ERAS protocol in surgical care.
- Apply ERAS principles to clinical practice across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of ERAS interventions to make data-driven adjustments that optimize patient recovery and satisfaction.
About the Author/Presenter
Dr. Candace Pierce DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, is a nurse leader committed to ensuring nurses are well prepared and offered abundant opportunities and resources to enhance their skills acquisition and confidence at the bedside. With 15 years in nursing, she has worked at the bedside, in management, and in nursing education. She has demonstrated expertise and scholarship in innovation and design thinking in healthcare and education, and collaborative efforts within and outside of healthcare. Scholarship endeavors include funded grants, publications, and presentations. As a leader, Dr. PIERCE: strives to empower others to create and deploy ideas and embrace their professional roles as leaders, change agents, and problem solvers. In her position as the Sr. Course Development Manager for Elite, she works as a project engineer with subject matter experts to develop evidence-based best practices in continuing education for nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Joanna Grayson, RN, BSN, is an experienced nurse educator specializing in evidence-based protocols like Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). With a background in clinical nursing, curriculum development, and healthcare communications, she provides clear, practical education to improve surgical outcomes and patient care. A BSN-prepared nurse with additional training in pediatric and school health, Joanna has developed content for healthcare professionals across clinical and academic settings. Her academic credentials include degrees from Baylor University and Emory University, along with advanced coursework in health education and communication. Joanna is known for making complex topics accessible and actionable for both providers and patients.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
