Link: Course Outline
Perioperative Nursing
Introduction to Perioperative Nursing, PERIO100
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The goal of this introductory-level program in Perioperative Nursing is to provide an
experienced RN or Graduate Nurse with the basic knowledge to get started as a
perioperative nurse. The program includes both didactic activities and a hospital-based
operating room clinical preceptor program.
This course is appropriate for the experienced RN or Graduate Nurse who wants to work
in any of the following settings: an operating room (OR), an ambulatory surgery center,
or a short procedure unit. RNs who function in units where invasive procedures are
performed on a routine basis can also benefit from this course.
Enrollment in this course requires that the student meet ALL requirements. The student
must:
 Be a registered nurse (RN) with an active state license or graduate nurse.
 Have a minimum of 2 years clinical experience in an acute clinical care setting, if
applicable.
 Provide two letters of recommendation.
 Be BLS certified.
 Agree to and sign the Sponsorship Agreement (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format). If
the need the free Acrobat Reader, download it here.
 Have provisional coverage under the malpractice insurance policy of the
sponsoring facility. If the student is not covered, the student must provide proof
of malpractice insurance coverage.
 Consult with sponsoring facility for additional requirements.
Class
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
TOPICAL OUTLINE
Introduction to Perioperative Nursing
Standards of Practice for the Perioperative
Nurse
Patient Safety
Pre-operative Preparation of the Patient: Care
of Pediatric and Geriatric Patients
The Surgical Environment
Principles of Aseptic Technique
Basic Surgical Instrumentation
Pharmacology & Anesthesia
Malignant Hyperthermia
Sterilization and Disinfection
Minimum
Didactic Hours
3
3
Minimum
Clinical Hours
16
16
3
3
16
16
3
3
3
3
3
3
16
16
16
16
16
16
11
12
13
14
15a
15b
Supplies and Instruments
Patient Positioning
Hemostasis
Surgical Wounds
Ambulatory Patients
Trauma Patients
3
3
3
3
3
3
16
16
16
16
16
16
OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES
 Explore the evolution of the perioperative nurse
 Discuss perioperative nursing practice, ethical issues in perioperative nursing, and
recognize the importance of professional organizations in the perioperative
environment.
 Discuss patient safety issues in the surgical environment
 Review/discuss the contribution the perioperative nurse makes to the patient’s
plan of care through assessment and correct documentation.
 Identify infection control practices in the surgical environment.
 Discuss practices of aseptic technique in the prevention of infection.
 Describe the attributes of surgical instrumentation.
 Discuss the role the perioperative nurse plays in safe patient anesthetic outcomes
 Discuss care of the patient in relation to malignant hyperthermia
 Recognize the various methods of preparing instrumentation for patient use.
 Discuss materials used in the sterilization process.
 Examine safe positioning of surgical patients and normothermic measures.
 Describe methods used in the surgical environment for achieving hemostasis.
 Recognize the impact of various closure techniques in the healing process.
 Compare the care of patients in the ambulatory setting to the care of patients in
the inpatient setting.
 Discuss the care of the trauma patient in the perioperative setting.
COURSE ACTIVITIES OR METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
This is a hybrid web-based course. The didactic portion of the course is web based and
provides interaction between student and instructor online.
•
•
Using reading assignments, quizzes, web research, discussion forums, exams, and
clinical activities, you will gain a fundamental understanding of Perioperative
Nursing by the end of the program. Students will be able to function at the entry
level in an operating room and begin the clinical requirement and area
specialization for the facility.
During the course of the semester, students will learn about a variety of
interesting topics as they relate to OR nursing, including standards for the
perioperative nurse, prepping the patient, anesthesia, sterilization techniques,
positioning the patient, and surgical specialties, among many other things.
•
The other key element to this course is the hands-on experience gained while
working with a clinical preceptor to complete the clinical requirements for this
course. Participation in this course requires that the student be sponsored by a
healthcare organization of their choice that can provide a clinical experience to
supplement the didactic portion of this course.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Textbooks:
 Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery - 15th Edition
ISBN: 9780323089425
 Essentials of Perioperative Nursing - 5th Edition
ISBN: 13:9781449688066
 Guidelines for Perioperative Practice 2015
ISBN: 978-1-888460-87-2
Internet and email access is required. The student will complete the majority of
assignments – web site research, discussion forum activity, quizzes and exams – within
the Blackboard distance-learning environment. One assignment requires use of
Microsoft Word or other word processing software.
EVALUATION:
The following didactic components are included in the student’s grade. A total score of
80% or better for these components must be earned in order to receive a passing grade for
this course.
 Discussion Forum Participation: 50%
 Weekly Quizzes: 50%
The other component of the student’s grade is the Clinical Activity. Each week the
clinical preceptor will assign and report to the instructor one of three completion levels:
successful, pending, or needs improvement. The student must have a “successful
completion” mark by end of course for all 15 weeks of clinical activity in order to pass
the clinical component of the course.
•
•
Those students who earn an 80% or better in the didactic activities and a 100%
successful completion in the clinical activities will receive a “Pass” grade at the
end of the course. Those students with a passing grade will receive a Certificate
of Completion in Introduction to Perioperative Nursing.
If a student is failing at any time during the course, the instructor will initiate a
meeting for discussion with the student and preceptor to determine if there is
successful progression on the student’s part to warrant their continued
participation in the course.