Preoperative assessment

Surgery is moving into the community with the advent of same day surgery, noninvasive surgery, and early admit and short-stay surgeries. Preoperative assessment and planning for postoperative recovery is now being eliminated or drastically decreased in the hospital because those nurses no longer have enough contact with the patients. As a result, clinics, physician's offices, and other community-based centers must assume these activities to ensure quality patient care that is coordinated and efficient. This article gives a review of the most common preoperative assessment needs, with implications for the surgical experience that the nurse practitioner may now have to complete.