Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The student
- knows the phases of surgical patient
- understands the process of surgical patient
- knows the main surgical illnesses and their effects on the patient's health, daily survival and the significant others
- is able to guide surgical patient and his/her family member in different stages on nursing process using evidence based knowledge
- is able to document and inform securing the continuity of care.

Content (course unit)

- characteristics of surgical nursing
- infection control in surgical nursing
- praparation for surgery
- preoperative and postoperative observation and care
- pain treatment of postoperative patient
- treatment of a surgical wound
- drug, fluid and nutritional treatment of the surgical patient
- special characteristics of care and support for a cancer patient and his/her significant others
- education and teaching of surgical nursing
- observation and care of the patient in plaster
- nursing care of a tracheostomised patient
- nursing care of a stoma patient

Prerequisites (course unit)

30 ects of first year studies completed, including Pharmacotherapy and Medical Calculations. Participation in course Intravenous Fluid Therapy and Blood Transfusion.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The Student
- outline the steps of the surgical patient's treatment path
- identify the main methods of assistance in the care of the surgical patient
- identify the effects of major surgical diseases on the patient's health, everyday survival and the patient's
- understand the importance of the guidance of the surgical patient and his relatives at different stages of the nursing care process
- know the importance of documentation and informing in ensuring the continuity of patient care

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student
- know the stages of the surgical patient's treatment path
- masters the main methods of helping the surgical patient in nursing
- know the effects of the most important surgical diseases on the patient's health, everyday survival and the patient's relatives
- be able to guide the surgical patient and their relatives at different stages of the nursing care process using evidence-based information
- is able to document and communicate orally, ensuring the continuity of patient care

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student
- masters the stages of the surgical patient's treatment path
- masters, with justification, the main methods of helping the surgical patient in nursing
- understand the effects of major surgical diseases on the patient's health, everyday survival and the patient's relatives
- is able to guide the surgical patient and his / her relatives in a patient-oriented way at different stages of the treatment process using evidence-based information
- is able to document assessments and communicate orally, ensuring the continuity of patient care

Location and time

At TAMK during Spring 2024

Exam schedules

The course orientation is mandatory for anyone hoping to participate in any part of the course. Being even 15 minutes late means that you have missed course orientation.
To complete the course, the following components must be successfully completed:

Part 1: Surgical Nursing theory: Exam Room. Numerical Assessment 1-5.
Part 2: Medical calculation: Exam Room. Assessment: pass / fail.
Part 3: Small group work. CBCL. Assessment: pass / fail.
Part 4: Seminar. Assessment: pass / fail.
Part 5: Nutrition in Surgical Nursing. Assessment: pass / fail
Part 6: Orientation to skills training at taitokeskus. Assessment: pass/ fail.

The theory and medical calculation exam in the exam room: 11.3.-22.3.2024
Failed theory and medical calculation re-exams are available as follows:

Re-exam 1:8.4.-12.4.2024 (you can attend only if you did not pass the previous exam)

Re-exam 2: 6.5.-10.5.2024 (you can attend only if you did not pass the previous exams)


The online nutrition test on Moodle must have been successfully completed by the end of the initial exam period (by 22.3.2024) in order to pass this component of the course. There is no restriction on the number of times the test can be taken.

An opportunity to improve your course grade will be provided in the last week (week 22) of May 2024.This requires you to have successfully complete all components of the course. You will need to notify the teacher in charge of the course of your intent two weeks prior (by 12.5.2024). Failure to comply with these instructions means that an exam opportunity will not be provided.

All tasks (including re-submissions) must be completed by the end of the initial exam period (by 22.3.2024 - no extensions will be provided). Late submissions will not be accepted. Failure to complete any part of the course will result in failure to successfully complete the course.

Assessment methods and criteria

The course orientation is compulsory. Failure to attend this means failure to continue on the course.

All the listed components of the course must be successfully completed within the given time frames in order to complete the course. Failure to complete any part of the course will mean that the student will need to enroll on another course to complete the relevant section.

Alternative tasks or tasks to compensate absenteeism will not be available nor will late submissions be accepted.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Lectures (online and face-to-face), small group work, group discussions, cbcl, seminar, skills training (at taitokeskus), independent study.


Changes to the implementation plan are possible until the orientation. Being even 15 minutes late means that you have missed course orientation.

Changes to the timetable are possible and will be communicated separately. Therefore, actively follow course communication and your schedule.

Learning materials

Hinkle, J.L & Cheever, K.H : Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing. Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Contents: Pain Management (revise). Fluid and Electrolyte: Balance and Disturbance/Parenteral Fluid Therapy (revise) Oncology: Nursing Management in Cancer Care/Management of cancer (surgery and nursing management). Perioperative Concepts and Nursing Management/pre- and postoperative nursing management. Musculoskeletal Care Modalities (The Patient in a Cast, Splint, or Brace; The Patient Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery), Management of Patients With Musculoskeletal Trauma (Fractures), Digestive and Gastrointestinal Treatment Modalities/Parenteral nutrition. Management of Patients With Intestinal and Rectal Disorders/Appendicitis, Diverticulitis, Ileostomy, Colostomy, Intestinal Obstruction. Assessment and Management of Patients With Breast Disorders/Breast cancer. Assessment and Management of Problems Related to Male Reproductive Processes/Benign prostatic hyperplasia, cancer of the prostate. Management of Patients With Dermatologic Problems/Wound care for skin conditions.

Fundamentals of Medical-Surgical Nursing : A Systems Approach 2014.Brady, McCabe,& McCann.2014.Publisher John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.e-book. 1.3, 1.6, 1.8 (surgical sutures, dressings, drains, postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain management), 2.11 (wound healing/assessment/management, surgical wounds), 2.12-2.21 partly (group assignments).

Yoost& Crawford (2015) Clinical Companion for Fundamentals of Nursing : Active Learning for Collaborative Practice.
Unit 2/Ch 6, Unit 2/Ch 10, Unit 5/Ch 25 (wound healing), Unit 6/Ch 32.

Smith, Alison, Maria Kisiel, and Mark Radford. Oxford Handbook of Surgical Nursing . Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2016. Print.


All material given by the teachers. All material in small group work, lectures and group assignments are part of the course's recommended literature.

Student workload

The course is worth 4 cr. This equates to 4 x 27hrs of student work.

Content scheduling

Part 1: Theory of Nursing
Part 2: Medical calculations (independent study)
Part 3: Small group work (CBCL)
Part 4: Seminar.
Part 5: Nutrition in Surgical Nursing (independent study)
Part 6: Orientation to skills training.

Completion alternatives

N/A

Practical training and working life cooperation

N/A

Further information

Failure to successfully complete one or more of the above parts within the given time frame for the course will result in the student having to register to complete the relevant part/s as part of another surgical nursing course.

CBCL - completed in groups of max. 4 students/group. The group submits one work.
seminar - completed in groups of max. 4 students/group. The group prepares and submits one work.

Failure to work productively and in good collaboration with your group can result in failure to be assessed for the respective group work. Group works must be done in groups - no individual presentations/submissions. Likewise, failure to comply with given instructions can result in failure to successfully complete the task.