Patients cannot be preadmitted into an observation status. If the patient develops a complication during the normal PACU time (typically 4-6 hours), observation status is warranted. Observation is an unplanned stay of some hours because the patient needs to be observed more closely. If the patient is already an inpatient, he or she cannot typically be converted to observation status. Some postoperative complications that warrant outpatient observation status include persistent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), uncontrolled pain, excessive or uncontrolled bleeding, an unstable level of consciousness, fluid or electrolyte imbalance, dysrhythmias, and a deficit in mobility or coordination (American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses [ASPAN], 2014; Meyerson, 2013).