Discharge criteria: 'just in case'.

According to the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI 2002) the increasing complexity of surgical procedures has increased the need for improved monitoring of the postoperative patient. 'Recovery' of a patient has moved from a brief period of observation towards one of assessment and evaluation during the immediate postoperative phase. The purpose of this article is to explore current practice with a focus on the application and importance of discharge criteria. Critical analysis will highlight the responsibilities and accountability of the recovery practitioner (a registered nurse (RN) or operating department practitioner (ODP)) when discharging the patient. Conversely, the article will also explore the tensions in relation to effective application of the discharge criteria and the recovery practitioner's professional accountability. The term 'recovery practitioner' will be used throughout this paper to refer to those who are chiefly employed to care for patients in the recovery room, or more contemporarily referred to as the post anaesthetic care unit (PACU).