Current and future trends in ambulatory surgery and their impact on nursing practice.

The rapidly changing ambulatory surgery arena requires the professional nurse practicing in that area to be constantly aware of practices and policies to meet the demands of providing high-quality care at a low cost. Programs to effectively streamline the ambulatory surgery process as well as enhance the patient's experience will facilitate the success of ambulatory surgery units. This article discusses specific trends in ambulatory surgery and mechanisms to facilitate smooth functioning of the ambulatory surgery unit.