The benefits of preparing children and parents for day surgery.

Hospital admission for children inevitably provokes feelings of anxiety for both parent and child. The development of day surgery has in some respects eased many of these anxieties; however, without the support of both verbal and written information and the development of quality preparation from children's nurses anxiety will continue to exist. This article seeks to explore the benefits of preparing children and parents for day surgery using preadmission education, and suggests how improvements may be made to practice, education and research.