Sometimes there will be a lot of information to hand over. Ensure that there is clear and concise documentation of post-operative instructions for the recovery team and for the nurses on the ward, for example:

• Oxygen: document the amount required and the duration
• Fluids: the quantity, type and rate of intravenous fluids should be prescribed
• Physiology: it may be appropriate to specify an appropriate range of parameters that the patient requires, such as blood pressure, urine output, neurology or oxygen saturation
• Drugs: prescribe regular and as-required medications. Provide a regime for diabetic medicines, including insulin, and specify when the blood sugar should be measured
• Surgical instructions: after some surgery there may be specific instructions from the surgeons, such as drains, wound site and positioning
• Destination: make sure the recovery team knows if the patient needs to go to the high dependency unit or intensive care unit
• Other: consider what level of monitoring is required and when the next laboratory tests should be done