What are the primary nursing considerations for a patient scheduled for outpatient surgery?

For a patient scheduled for outpatient surgery, ensuring understanding of discharge instructions and arranging for post-operative transportation is crucial. This nursing consideration is essential because outpatient surgeries typically involve a quicker recovery and discharge process compared to inpatient surgeries. Patients are often administered anesthesia or sedation, which impairs their ability to drive or make safe decisions immediately following the procedure.

By confirming that the patient understands post-operative care instructions—such as signs of complications, wound care, and when to seek medical assistance—the nurse helps to promote safer recovery at home and decreases the risk of complications. Additionally, arranging for suitable transportation ensures that the patient can leave the facility without jeopardizing their safety, minimizing the chance of accidents or further health issues.

While other choices may seem relevant, they do not hold the same level of priority in the context of immediate post-operative care for outpatient procedures. Administering medications on the day of surgery is typically managed by the surgical team, while preparing a detailed surgical history is usually conducted before the day of surgery. Assessing the need for physical therapy, while important in some cases, may not be necessary for all outpatient surgical procedures and does not need to be prioritized on the day of surgery itself.