Parents' perceptions of the stressors of pediatric ambulatory surgery.

The economic reality of skyrocketing health care costs has dramatically stimulated the shift from inpatient to outpatient surgery in the last decade. Although the stress of inpatient surgery and hospitalization is well documented in the literature, little has been written about the stressors of families whose children undergo day surgery. This descriptive study explored the perceptions of parents' stressors as their children underwent day surgery. The following categories of parental stressors were identified: intrapersonal, interpersonal, or extrapersonal. Recommendations to minimize the stressors of families are given. Results of the study may guide planning and implementation of nursing practice changes in pediatric ambulatory surgery.