Objective To explore the application of integrated nursing model in the nursing of patients underwent rectal cancer surgery. Methods A total of 82 patients with rectal cancer admitted to a hospital in Liaoyang City from September 2018 to December 2020 were selected as subjects and assigned to an observation group（n=43） and a control group（n=39） according to different nursing methods. Patients in the control group received routine nursing interventions

while the observation group received integrated nursing interventions on top of routine nursing. Patients in both groups received continuous intervention for 3 months. The recovery of gastrointestinal function and the occurrence of complications during the nursing were compared between the two groups

as well as the pain level [Visual Analogue Scale（VRS） and Numeric Rating Scale（NRS） scores] and inflammatory factor level [serum interleukin-6（IL-6） and interleukin-8（IL-8）] before and after the intervention. Results Before the intervention

there was no statistically significant difference in VRS score

NPS score between the 2 groups（P>0.05）. After the intervention

the VRS and NPS scores in the 2 groups were lower than those before the intervention

and the observation group was lower than the control group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. On the first after surgery

the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in both groups were higher than those before the intervention

and the differences were statistically significant（P<0.05）. The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the observation group were lower than those in the control group

and the differences were statistically significant（P<0.05）. The recovery of gastrointestinal function（stool frequency score

abnormal defecation sensation score

urgent stool score

diet-affected defecation score and total score of intestinal function questionnaire） in the observation group was lower than those in the control group

and the differences were statistically significant（P <0.05）. The incidence of complications during nursing was 4.65% in the observation group

which was lower than that of the control group（20.51%）

and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）. Conclusion The intervention of the integrated nursing model for rectal cancer surgery patients can effectively improve their pain level

promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function and reduce the risk of postoperative complications.