A considerable amount of elective surgery can now be undertaken on a day-case or short-stay basis–23-hour or 72-hour stay. Such changes to modern surgery are transforming surgical nursing as a result of the reduced levels of physical care traditionally required by elective surgical patients. Brief hospital stay and self-care have become the greater part of preparation for, and recovery from, elective surgery. Education and psychological aspects of care are also important in the development of elective surgical nursing. This article focuses on laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed as a day-case procedure and identifies the changing aspects of nursing intervention required.