Study Guide

Objectives

The objective of the course is to provide basic knowledge and develop fundamental skills in perioperative nursing in Finnish operating environment.

After completing the course, the student
• understands the role of a perioperative nurse through the activities and tasks of anesthesia nurse, scrub nurse, and circulating nurse
• applies the principles of asepsis and master the principles and methods of infection control in perioperative care 
• comprehends the significance of patient safety and continuity of care in a multidisciplinary team 
• understands the methods of safe anaesthesia, patient monitoring and the principles of medication and fluid management in perioperative nursing
• has the knowledge of key surgical instruments and equipment used in surgery and understands their safe usage
• knows the key concepts and vocabulary of the course in Finnish
• can participate in patient guidance situations related to the course in Finnish according to their language proficiency level

Content

• preparation of the operating room and the patient for surgery and anesthesia 
• activities of anesthesia nurse, instrumental nurse, and monitoring nurse during surgery
• patient safety, documentation, and reporting in perioperative nursing, also in Finnish according to their language proficiency level
• asepsis and aseptic practices in perioperative nursing
• key terminology and vocabulary of the course in Finnish

Prerequisites

30 ects credits of first year studies completed, including Pharmacotherapy and Medical Calculations. Participation in the course Intravenous Fluid Therapy and Clinical Laboratory Tests.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student
• understands the intraoperative and immediate postoperative phases of patient care 
• understands the role of a perioperative nurse
• knows the significance of patient safety and continuity of care in perioperative nursing 
• understands the importance of asepsis in the operating room
• has knowledge of key factors related to patient anesthesia preparation, implementation, and immediate postoperative care
• has knowledge of the basic fluids and medications used in patient anesthesia
• has knowledge of common surgical instruments and sutures
• understands the importance of safe equipment technology in patient care
• knows the principles of safe patient positioning practices
• has knowledge of common disinfection and sterilization methods in perioperative nursing
• understands the importance of documentation and oral communication in patient care

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student
• has knowledge of the patient's care pathway in the intraoperative and immediate postoperative phases
• understands the role of a perioperative nurse
• comprehends the significance of patient safety and continuity of care in peri-operative nursing
• understands the importance of asepsis in the operating room and follows aseptic guidelines
• is proficient in key principles related to safe anesthesia preparation and implementation
• knows the principles and dynamics of fluids and medications used in patient anesthesia
• understands the areas of monitoring for patients under local and general anesthesia and their significance during surgery and in the recovery room
• is able to indentify common surgical instruments and sutures safely
• understands the significance of safe equipment technology in patient care
• understands the creation and significance of common surgical positions in patient care
• knows the principles of safe patient positioning practices and demonstrates knowledge in implementing surgical positioning
• knows the importance of common disinfection and sterilization methods in perioperative nursing
• fully comprehends the importance of documentation and oral communication in patient care

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student 
• fully understands the patient's care pathway in the intraoperative and postoperative phases
• fully comprehends the role of a perioperative nurse and appreciates the importance of teamwork
• fully comprehends the significance of patient safety and continuity of care in peri-operative nursing
• fully understands the importance of asepsis in the operating room and follows aseptic guidelines
• masters methods related to patient anesthesia preparation and implementation
• knows the fluids and medications used in patient anesthesia
• can effectively monitor patients under local and general anesthesia during surgery and in the recovery room
• can identify and handle safely common surgical instruments and sutures and understand their purposes
• fully comprehends the safety factors of equipment technology in patient care
• fully comprehends the methods and principles of safe patient positioning practices and demonstrates knowledge in implementing surgical positioning
• understands the significance of safe surgical positions in patient well-being
• has proficiency in common disinfection and sterilization methods in perioperative nursing.