The same standards of nursing care must be provided to all postanesthe
sia patients, whether these are general surgical patients or those who
have received regional or general anesthesia associated with vaginal
or cesarean birth. Because obstetric nursing personnel have not had th
e benefit of didactic and skills training in the area of postanesthesi
a nursing, additional training is mandated. The article describes a st
aff education program designed as an educational framework to enhance
the knowledge base and assessment skills of obstetric nurses providing
postanesthesia care.