Patient anxiety is a normal part of the surgical patient's 'career' and would be anticipated by nurses in a variety of settings. Anxiety causes a number of undesirable effects which may place the patient at greater perioperative risk. Factors that mitigate against the nurse being able to devote adequate time to this important aspect of patient care will not disappear overnight and arguably, without quality psychological care, patients are being placed at greater risk. This article considers the issue of perioperative anxiety with the aim to revise the concept and highlight the serious implications of giving it a lesser priority within patient care. Alternative strategies should be sought that might also help patients take back some control over their own challenging situations. Practitioners must acknowledge that there is a need to investigate their current practice and that they have a responsibility to address patient anxiety effectively.
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