title: Communication to facilitate care of the obstetric surgical patient in a postanesthesia care setting.
abstract: Perinatal clientele have become more complex in their presentation and care today than ever before, requiring care in units other than the traditional obstetric or perinatal unit. Therefore, it is extremely important that the nurses caring for these patients know the associated standards of care, understand the importance of communication, and work to ensure the safety of the patient. This article provides an overview of the standards of ASPAN and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), guidance on initial and ongoing assessments of this population, and emphasizes the importance of all forms of communication during the care of the obstetric patient.
authors.affiliation: United States Air Force Nurse Corps, Chief Nurse, 60th Medical Group (SGN), Travis AFB, CA, USA. Keiko.Torgersen@travis.af.mil
authors.forename: Keiko L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Torgersen
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D017751:Safety Management