Preparation for ambulatory surgery: a patient education program

New experiences for patients and new role responsibilities for nurses emerge in the ambulatory surgical setting. Due to limited access to health care providers, individual patients must assume presurgical and postsurgical responsibility for their own well-being and self-care. Patient education that focuses on the perioperative experiences associated with ambulatory surgery is necessary to assist the patient's recovery efforts. This article will analyze the numerous steps involved in creating and evaluating a patient education program that prepares an adult patient for ambulatory surgery. The Systems Evaluation of Patient Education model developed by Rankin and Duffy will be used to illustrate how a PACU nurse systematically proceeded to examine needs, identify resources, implement the instructional program, and analyze outcomes.