Introduction

Perioperative means the time around surgery. It is used to encompass the time between going to the facility, having the procedure, and then returning home afterward. This chapter will discuss the first of three phases included in perioperative nursing. There are multiple pathways a patient may take before ending up in the operating room. As health care has evolved through the years, one major advancement is the more streamlined, less invasiveness of surgery. Many procedures are now performed in outpatient settings, such as surgical clinics, allowing for a quicker return home and less downtime for the patient. Some common surgical procedures are planned, such as elective cosmetic procedures, while other surgeries are emergent and unplanned, such as for life-threatening conditions or injury. There is often overlap when it comes to the provided care between the phases of preoperative nursing, which will be discussed further in this chapter. In order to provide safe, quality, and competent patient care, the nurse must thoroughly understand the different phases of preoperative care.