title: Development of a postoperative self-assessment form.
abstract: This paper describes a patient self-assessment form developed for use in a research study examining early discharge and transitional nursing follow-up care for women with abdominal hysterectomy. Transitional care nursing involves preparation for an early discharge from the hospital and nursing follow-up for convalescence at home through an 8-week recovery period. The goal of transitional care is to assist the client in regaining her preoperative level of self-care. This article will include a brief overview of the ongoing research study, a description of the role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in transitional care, and the use of the self-assessment form. The form is applicable to numerous clinical settings.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Hollingsworth
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000451:nursing*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care