Perioperative Nursing (4cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The student
- understands the role of the perioperative nurse;
- knows the meaning of aseptics in intraoperative nursing;
- masters the principles and methods of infection control in intraoperative nursing;
- understands the meaning of patient safety and continuity of patient care;
- knows the main methods of preparation of a patient's anaesthesia;
- knows the medication used in anaesthesia;
- is able to observe the patient under anaesthesia;
- recognises main surgical instruments and suture materials and knows their basic use in surgery;
- knows the main equipment and its use in the operating theatre;
- knows the most common methods of disinfection and sterilasation;
- becomes familiar with positioning the patient for the operation.

Content (course unit)

- various roles of a perioperative nurse
- day surgery and ambulatory surgery
- guidance of patients of different ages
- special issues in perioperative nursing
- preparation of the operating theatre for surgery
- patient safety, documentation and reporting in perioperative nursing;
- preparation of the patient for the operation
- the principles of aseptics;
- the main equipment and its use in the operating theatre;
- the most common methods in disinfection and sterilasation;
- induction and observation of the patient during the operation;
- medication and fluid therapy in anaesthesia:
- observation of the patient in the recovery room;
- pain control in immediate postoperative nursing

Prerequisites (course unit)

30 ects of initial stage studies must be completed before entering the middle stage studies.

Location and time

Weeks 2-5/2020.
Course Final test in Exam: week 5.
1st retake in Exam February 2020 week 11.
2nd retake in Exam March 2020 week 15.

Exam schedules

Final written test in Exam during week 5.
1st retake in Exam February 2020 week 11.
2nd retake in Exam March 2020 week 15.

Assessment methods and criteria

To pass the course successfully, all the tasks/assignments, possible online tests need to be achieved in given time. The course will be evaluated Failed / Satisfactory 1 - Excellent 5. The evaluation is based on final exam (evaluation 0-5). Final exam includes medical calculation (pass/failed).

In order to pass the tasks/tests and exam, the answers cannot show or present such action, which would cause danger, harm, injury or death to the patient.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

The information about this course will be updated before mandatory.
Mandatory orientation session: see course timetable.
The course has different learning methods: online studies in Tabula, possibly blended learning in a class room, possibly lectures, small group work and independent studies.
This course will include mandatory independent and group assignments, web-based tests and independent study.

Learning materials

Recommended Literature:
• Hinkle, J.L & Cheever, K.H : Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing. Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2017. (also earlier publications)
• Wicker P, Dalby S. Rapid Perioperative Care. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated; 2016
• Wicker P. Perioperative Practice at a Glance. 1st ed. Wiley-Blackwell; 2015.
• Criscitelli T. Fast Facts for the Operating Room Nurse: An Orientation and Care Guide in a Nutshell. New York: Springer Publishing Company; 2014.
Content: same as in course plan
- various roles of a perioperative nurse
- day surgery and ambulatory surgery
- guidance of patients
- special issues in perioperative nursing
- preparation of the operating theatre for surgery
- patient safety, documentation and reporting in perioperative nursing;
- preparation of the patient for the operation
- the principles of aseptics;
- the main equipment and its use in the operating theatre;
- the most common methods in disinfection and sterilasation;
- induction and observation of the patient during the operation;
- medication and fluid therapy in anaesthesia:
- observation of the patient in the recovery room;
- pain control in immediate postoperative nursing

Medical calculations:
• Calculation skills for nurses (e-book).2013. Boyd, Claire
• Gatford & Phillips. Nursing Calculations.2006.
Material provided during the course and created in teams and small groups.

Student workload

The course is 4 ECTS. 1 ECTS is 27 hours of student work. The total work is 108 hours of student's work, including possible online studies, blended learning, small group work-lessons and independent studies.

Content scheduling

Participation in theory lessons at the same time or before small group work-lessons.
Participation in theory lessons at the same time or before orientation to clinical training: Perioperative Nursing.

Completion alternatives

Not available.

Further information

Tamk students must have completed 30 ECTS of the early-stage studies before commencing the course.
Students must enroll in a course during enrollment time. 100% presence in small group work-lessons.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student does not reach the criteria set for passed evaluation. The assignments and tests show such activities, which may cause danger, harm, injury or death to the patient.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Outlines the patient's care pathway in the intraoperative phase
Outlines the role of the perioperative nurse; scrub nurse, anaesthetic nurse and circulator
Is able to guide the patient in the intraoperative phase
Is aware of the importance of patient safety and continuity of care in the operating room
Knows the importance of asepsis in operating rooms and small operations
Knows the main methods of preparing a patient for anesthesia
Know the patient's anesthesia fluids and medications
Knows the most important aspects of monitoring anesthetized and anesthetized patient during surgery and waking
Knows the most important surgical instruments
Knows the most important surgical sutures
Knows the common instruments used in the patient's intraoperative phase
Knows the most commonly used disinfectant and sterilization methods in perioperative nursing
Knows the most common positioning ways for the operation.
Knows the meaning of documentation and spoken reporting in patient's care

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Knows the patient's care pathway in the intraoperative phase
Understands the work of a perioperative nurse in intraoperative care of a patient
Is able to guide the patient in the intraoperative phase
Understands the importance of patient safety and continuity of care in operating rooms
Understands the importance of asepsis in operating theater and small procedures and knows how to act aseptically
Knows the essential methods of patient anesthesia preparation
Know the patient's anesthesia fluids and medications
Knows the most important aspects of anesthesia and anesthesia in patient monitoring and its importance for patient's well-being during surgery and waking
Can identify the most common basic surgical instruments
Knows the most important surgical sutures and their intended use
Knows the equipment used in the patient's intraoperative phase and knows the basics of their use
Knows the importance of the most commonly used disinfectant and sterilization methods in perioperative nursing
Get used to creating the most used positionings in OR
Can document the most important aspects of patient anaesthesia

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Understands the patient's care pathway in the intraoperative phase
Understands the work of a perioperative nurse in a patient's intraoperative care and understands the importance of teamwork
Is able to patient-guide the patient in the intraoperative phase
Understands the central importance of patient safety and continuity of care in the operating room
Understands the importance of asepsis in operating theater and small procedures and knows how to act aseptically and masters aseptic function in different situations
Master the methods of preparing the patient for anesthesia
Know the patient's fluids and medications used in anesthesia and their mechanisms of action
Able to observe key areas of the anesthetized and anesthetized patient during surgery and waking
Can identify the most common basic surgical instruments and know their purpose
Knows the purpose of the most important surgical sutures
Knows the basics of the instruments used in the patient's intraoperative phase
Knows the most commonly used disinfectant and sterilization methods in perioperative nursing
Knows how to create the most used surgical positions and understands their importance for the patient's well-being
Can document the most important aspects of a patient's anesthesia and orally inform about patient care in OR for securing continuity of care