OBJECTIVES: To compare patient reported outcomes of pain and quality of life (QOL) between breast cancer surgery patients. The analysis compared one patient group that was on a critical pathway to a patient group that was not on a critical pathway during their hospital stay. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study of patients discharged for breast cancer surgery at a community-based teaching hospital. The analysis for this study included 3 distinct patient-reported pain ratings 3-6 days post-discharge: highest and lowest levels since discharge and current level of pain at the time of assessment. Additionally, patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Subscale (FACT-B) six months post-discharge. Data were collected via telephone interview. RESULTS: Study groups were found to have similar sociodemographic characteristics. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups for the pain or QOL outcomes. Length of stay (LOS) was found to be statistically significant between the pathway and non-pathway groups (p = 0.020). A total of 77.3% of the pathway group and 76.7% of the non-pathway reported pain ratings ? 3 when rating their highest level of pain since discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of pathway status, patients reported similar outcomes of pain and QOL. The implementation of the pathway helped formalize the care delivered at the institution. While the findings illustrate consistent delivery of care regardless of pathway status, they also indicate further attention to pain management post-discharge is needed. Over 75% of patients in both groups did not meet the pathway standard when rating their highest level of pain. The pathway can serve as an informative tool by identifying areas for improvement. The data gathered can be used as a baseline comparison measure once these areas have been identified and changes implemented. Future research should evaluate pathways and their impact on patient care after a patient has been discharged from the hospital.