British journal of community nursing
-
The enhanced recovery programme (ERP) is being increasingly performed in hospitals in the UK. This article discusses the principles of enhanced recovery and aims to dispel myths and concerns that the ERP might increase the workload for the community nurse. ⋯ With enhanced recovery hospital stays can be reduced to approximately 4 days for resections of the colon. To achieve this care a number of elements are required including early feeding and early mobilization and this results in patients getting better quicker than they would with traditional hospital care.