Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

End-of-life (EOL) care in operative settings presents complex ethical challenges for surgical nurses who must navigate the tensions between preserving life, respecting patient autonomy, and managing professional and institutional expectations. This paper explores the ethical dilemmas faced by surgical nurses during perioperative care of terminal patients or those with Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders. Drawing from contemporary bioethical principles, global nursing standards, and empirical studies, the discussion centers on themes such as informed consent, moral distress, communication barriers, and interprofessional conflict. Authentic data and illustrative tables highlight the frequency and nature of these ethical concerns across surgical units. The paper concludes with recommendations for ethical frameworks, nurse empowerment, and institutional policy reforms that support compassionate and ethically sound decision-making in operative EOL scenarios.