A peptic ulcer is a mucosal defect that can occur in parts of the digestive tract where gastric acid and pepsin are active. The most common defect occurs in the mucous membrane of the stomach or duodenum and, less often, in the esophagus, proximal jejunum, and Meckel's diverticulum. The etiology of its occurrence has yet to be fully discovered. Still, the most common and leading causes are Helicobacter pylori infection and the use of ulcerogenic drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetylsalicylic acid. According to the duration, we distinguish between two types of ulcers: acute and chronic. The most common symptoms are pain in the epigastrium, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. In some cases, bleeding from the digestive system in the form of hematemesis and melena can be the first sign of the disease. Diagnostics begins with taking an anamnesis and a physical examination. It is necessary to perform an esophagoduodenoscopy as well as a stool examination for occult bleeding. An uncomplicated ulcer is treated conservatively, and surgical treatment is usually only needed for complications of the ulcer disease. Complications that require urgent surgery are ulcer perforation, bleeding, obstruction when a malignant process is suspected, and ulcers that are refractory to pharmacotherapy. This review presents the etiology, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of complicated peptic ulcers and the nurse's role in the health care of surgical patients