Perioperative Nursing Specialty

In this course, we start out by considering what makes perioperative nursing distinctive from other areas of nursing. We discuss what caring looks like in the perioperative area, and how it is enacted by perioperative nurses. You will learn about the complementary scrub and circulating nursing roles, and their related activities. You will have the opportunity to consider how professional scope of practice will guide your nursing activities in this setting. We then move to patient-centered care by looking at strategies for how the nurse can seek to understand the patient’s individual perioperative experience using framing concepts of vulnerability and dignity. You’ll consider how to provide ethical perioperative care based in relational practice, and how to advocate for patients and families. We will relate the concept of health to perioperative patients, and reflect on how the perioperative nurse promotes health. You will learn about environmental and cultural factors unique to the perioperative setting, and how these factors affect team function, patient care, and the patient’s lived experience. You will be introduced to the importance of self-care in this setting. We will look at how partnership is enacted in this specialty area. You will consider communication and interprofessional collaboration as they relate to perioperative patients and teams. We take an in-depth look at the CIHC National Interprofessional Competency Framework to help you think about how perioperative teams can work together effectively to promote safe patient care and a culture of safety. The modules that focus on clinical decision-making and the Situated Clinical Decision-making Framework are important to help you develop your perioperative nursing foundational knowledge. You will consider case study applications of the Framework in preparation for future perioperative theory and clinical learning. We conclude the course with how you can prepare for the transition from your current area of nursing practice to perioperative nursing.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This 125- hour clinical course is an introduction to perioperative nursing care with a primary focus on developing beginning competency in the scrub nurse role. Students implement NSPO 7250 and/or NSPO 7251 theory content in the practice setting. By engaging in nursing practices that progress from simple to more complex, participants will develop skills to manage the sterile surgical environment and provide safe patient care during surgery. Learners will implement a framework for practice and function independently as a novice scrub nurse. Participants will apply key concepts of safety, surgical conscience and aseptic technique in the scrub role to promote a safe and supportive environment for patients and perioperative team members. Students will continue to learn about and apply the concept of caring through exploration of patients' intraoperative experiences. Learners will use effective communication, organization and prioritization techniques to facilitate the set-up and monitoring of a sterile environment. Students will learn to apply sound clinical decision-making processes in the intraoperative phase of perioperative care. Emphasis is on the scrub nurse's collaborative role with patients, colleagues, instructors and multidisciplinary team members is emphasized. Students will create opportunities to humanize the perioperative environment for patients and team members using collaborative strategies. Learners will begin to learn about and practice circulating nurse skills that focus on supporting the scrub nurse and sterile team.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPO 7250 or 75% in NSPO 7251
• AFTER NSPO 7450 or NSPO 7451 (requires PH Approval)

This course builds on the concepts and frameworks presented in NSPO 7100. The focus is on how perioperative nurses provide care in the scrub role for patients undergoing common, less complex surgeries. Participants will continue learning about the key concepts of caring, clinical decision-making, safety, aseptic technique, and surgical conscience. Learners will consider how these concepts are used to maintain a safe and supportive perioperative environment for patients and team members. The course introduces theory related to the development of basic perioperative scrub nurse skills in preparation for clinical learning. Clinical decision-making frameworks that guide practice in the scrub role are introduced and reviewed. Participants will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and disease processes to deepen their understanding of perioperative nursing care in the scrub role. Learners will examine ways of developing collaborative relationships with patients, colleagues, instructors, and perioperative team members.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPO 7100

This course builds on the concepts and frameworks presented in NSPO 7100. The focus is on how perioperative nurses provide care in the scrub role for patients undergoing common, less complex surgeries. Participants will continue learning about the key concepts of caring, clinical decision-making, safety, aseptic technique, and surgical conscience. Learners will consider how these concepts are used to maintain a safe and supportive perioperative environment for patients and team members. The course introduces theory related to the development of basic perioperative scrub nurse skills in preparation for clinical learning. Clinical decision-making frameworks that guide practice in the scrub role are introduced and reviewed with a focus on the Situated Clinical Decision Making Framework (Gillespie & Patterson, 2009). Participants will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and disease processes to deepen their understanding of perioperative nursing care in the scrub role. Learners will examine ways of developing collaborative relationships with patients, colleagues, instructors, and perioperative team members. This course is part of the BCIT Perioperative/Periop 101: A Core Curriculum merged program for BC Health Authority sponsored perioperative nurses. Participants will need to successfully pass one AORN Periop 101 final exam to achieve the Periop 101 Certificate of Completion. Note: The Periop 101 exam is completed at the end of NSPO 7451 as exam contains both scrub and circulating nurse course content.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPO 7100

This course builds on the concepts and frameworks presented in prerequisite courses. Learners focus on how perioperative nurses provide care in the circulating role for patients undergoing common, less complex surgeries and anesthesia. Students learn how circulating nurses assess and prepare patients and families for anesthesia and surgery. Participants will continue learning about the key concepts of caring, safety, aseptic technique, and surgical conscience. Learners will consider how these concepts are used to maintain a safe and supportive perioperative environment for patients and team members. The course introduces theory that forms the basis for the development of circulating nurse skills in preparation for clinical learning. Clinical decision-making frameworks that guide practice are reviewed and applied to the circulating role. Participants will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and disease processes to deepen their understanding of perioperative nursing in the circulating role. Learners will examine ways of developing collaborative relationships with patients, colleagues, instructors, and perioperative team members. Participants will also consider how to employ effective leadership strategies, including advocacy and effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills during the perioperative period.
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSPO 7350
• AFTER NSPO 7250 or NSPO 7251 (requires PH Approval)

This course builds on the concepts and frameworks presented in prerequisite courses. Learners focus on how perioperative nurses provide care in the circulating role for patients undergoing common, less complex surgeries and anesthesia. Students learn how circulating nurses assess and prepare patients and families for anesthesia and surgery. Participants will continue learning about the key concepts of caring, safety, aseptic technique, and surgical conscience. Learners will consider how these concepts are used to maintain a safe and supportive perioperative environment for patients and team members. Participants will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and disease processes to deepen their understanding of perioperative nursing in the circulating role. The course introduces theory that forms the basis for the development of circulating nurse skills in preparation for clinical learning. Clinical decision-making frameworks (Gillespie & Patterson, 2009) that guide practice are reviewed and applied to the circulating role. Learners will examine ways of developing collaborative relationships with patients, colleagues, instructors, and perioperative team members. Participants will also consider how to employ effective leadership strategies, including advocacy and effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills during the perioperative period. This course is part of the BCIT Perioperative/Periop 101: A Core Curriculum merged program for BC Health Authority sponsored perioperative nurses. Participants will need to successfully pass one AORN Periop 101 final exam to achieve the Periop 101 Certificate of Completion. Note: The Periop 101 exam is completed at the end of NSPO 7451 as exam contains both scrub and circulating nurse course content.
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSPO 7350
• AFTER NSPO 7250 or NSPO 7251 (requires PH Approval)

In this 150-hour clinical course, learners will implement theory from NSPO 7100, 7250/7251, and 7450/7451 in the practice setting and develop novice competency in the circulating nurse role. Licensed Practical Nurse learners will provide care for stable patients with predictable outcomes undergoing anesthesia and surgery in collaboration with Registered Nurses. By engaging in nursing practices, learners will develop the skills to prepare stable and non-complex patients for anesthesia and surgery and support them during the procedures. The course will emphasize the circulating nurse's collaborative role with patients, colleagues, instructors, and multidisciplinary team members. Learners will have the opportunity to perform circulating nurse activities through a team nursing approach in the perioperative setting. Learners will create opportunities to humanize the perioperative environment for patients and team members using collaborative strategies and gain further insight into the concept of caring as they work in partnership with patients and families during surgery and anesthesia. Learners will apply key concepts of safety, surgical conscience, and aseptic technique in the circulating role to promote a safe and supportive environment for patients and perioperative team members. Learners will work in partnership with the Registered Nurses to employ leadership strategies during clinical practice. By course completion, learners will implement a framework for practice and develop skills to function collaboratively as a novice circulating nurse.
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSPO 7350

In this 150-hour clinical course, learners will develop beginner competency in the circulating nurse role. Students will implement theory from NSPO 7100, 7250/7251, and 7450/7451 in the practice setting. By engaging in nursing practices that progress from simple to more complex, learners will develop the skills needed to prepare patients for and support them during anesthesia and surgery. By course completion, learners will implement a framework for practice and develop skills to function independently as a novice circulating nurse. Participants will apply key concepts of safety, surgical conscience, and aseptic technique in the circulating role to promote a safe and supportive environment for patients and perioperative team members. Participants will gain further insight into the concept of caring as they work in partnership with patients and families during surgery and anesthesia. Learners will focus on utilizing comprehensive assessment techniques. Students will use effective communication, organization, and prioritization strategies to provide safe, patient-focused care. Additionally, participants will apply sound clinical decision-making processes during the pre-, intra-, and immediate postoperative phases of perioperative care. The course will emphasize the circulating nurse's collaborative role with patients, colleagues, instructors, and multidisciplinary team members. Students will create opportunities to humanize the perioperative environment for patients and team members using collaborative strategies. Leadership strategies at a novice level will be employed during clinical practice. In addition, learners may begin to integrate practices of the scrub and circulating nurse roles.
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSPO 7350

The focus of this 125-hour clinical preceptorship is continued growth, integration, and consolidation of the perioperative scrub and circulating nurse roles. Licensed Practical Nurse learners will provide care for stable patients with predictable outcomes undergoing anesthesia and surgery in collaboration with Registered Nurses. Learners will further develop and advance skills, knowledge, and processes learned in previous clinical and theory courses. Learners will continue to apply key concepts of safety, surgical conscience, caring, and aseptic technique in the scrub and circulating roles as they collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to create of a safe and supportive perioperative environment for individuals and team members. Learners will continue to develop comprehensive assessment abilities, sound clinical decision-making processes, in partnership with the RN provide safe, patient-focused care at the novice level in the scrub and circulating roles. Learners will continue to use practice frameworks and a team nursing approach to support patients in both roles during anesthesia and surgery. Upon completion of the course, learners should be able to independently and collaboratively integrate scrub and circulating nurse activities at a novice level for non-complex surgeries.
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSPO 7540

The focus of this 125-hour clinical preceptorship is continued growth, integration, and consolidation of the perioperative scrub and circulating nurse roles as learners provide care for patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery. Participants will build on and extend skills, knowledge, and processes learned in previous clinical and theory courses. Learners continue to use frameworks for practice to support patients in both roles during anesthesia and surgery. Upon completion of the course, learners should be able to independently integrate scrub and circulating nurse activities at a novice level for common, less complex surgeries. Participants continue to apply key concepts of safety, surgical conscience, caring, and aseptic technique in both roles as they collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to create of a safe and supportive perioperative environment for individuals and team members. Participants continue to develop comprehensive assessment abilities, sound clinical decision-making processes, and collaborative leadership strategies to provide safe, patient-focused care at the novice level in both roles.
Prerequisite(s):

• S in NSPO 7550