Final answer:
In the nursing process, the initial step when developing a patient's discharge plan is assessing the patient's needs. This involves the health care team reviewing the patient's condition and planning for post-discharge care.
Step-by-step explanation:
When developing a patient's discharge plan, putting first things first in the nursing process always entails focusing on assessing the patient's needs. This would involve a review, where the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional discuss the key concerns for the patient's recovery and care. Assessment is the critical first step of the nursing process, where data about the patient's health status is collected. This information serves as the foundation for developing a tailored discharge plan that addresses each patient's unique health care needs, and ensures continuity of care after they leave the hospital setting.