title: Criteria for the safe discharge of patients from the recovery room.
abstract: Guidelines need to be in place to help nurses in the recovery room make appropriate and safe decisions when discharging patients to a surgical ward. Consciousness level, respiration, circulation, pain control, homeostasis and wound care should all be considered. Criteria from the Freeman Hospital provides practical guidance.
authors.affiliation: Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D001831:Body Temperature; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D009325:Nausea / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000592:standards*; D012119:Respiration; D012449:Safety; D014839:Vomiting / Q000628:therapy; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology