Abstract
As perioperative registered nurses, we tend to think of patient safety as protection from injury immediately prior to, during, and immediately after surgical procedures. However, patient safety extends beyond discharge and is a measurement of how effective patient teaching is in attaining desired outcomes. This article describes the Fresh Start program, the patient population we serve, and our planning cycle. It also describes the use of the "Perioperative Patient-Focused Model" (S. C. Beyea, 2002, p. 25) to deliver care and the relationship between patient education and safety. A description of challenges encountered in the clinical setting examines their role as critical factors in the education and safety of patients, and identifies possible ways to address them.