Registered Nurse Perioperative Nursing (RNOR)

This course provides a foundational overview of the perioperative setting, including the design and flow of the perioperative environment, the roles and responsibilities of the perioperative nurse, an introduction to the interprofessional team, and an overview of different surgical modalities. Students are introduced to the perioperative nurses professional association – the Operating Room Nurses’ Association of Canada (ORNAC) and begin to understand how the association guides professional practice through the use of the ORNAC standards. Students develop an understanding of foundational perioperative principles including patient safety, asepsis and infection prevention. Legal and ethical considerations, communication, and documentation standards are presented in this course to be built upon in subsequent perioperative courses.

In this course, students develop an in-depth understanding of the perioperative process including the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases. Students gain understanding of the perioperative nurse's role throughout all phases of care, with a focus on intra-operative care. Students apply the ORNAC standards as they learn the detailed roles of both the scrub and circulating nurse throughout the phases of care.

The perioperative environment requires nurses to have detailed knowledge of surgical instruments and specialized equipment. This course introduces students to surgical instrumentation including the specialized care, cleaning, and sterilization practices required to prevent surgical site infections. By understanding the purpose and use of instruments and equipment, students can differentiate instrument classifications and begin to anticipate the scrub role. Students apply the ORNAC standards to prevent the inadvertent retention of items in surgical wounds. Students learn about advancements in technology and are introduced to common equipment specific to the perioperative environment.

In this final theory course, students learn about special considerations within the perioperative environment including specific patient populations and emergency events. Students have the opportunity to reflect on continuing professional development and consider how they will support the future of perioperative nursing as well as lead clinical change.

Students attend five lab days where they will have the opportunity to apply concepts learned in theory courses in a simulated perioperative lab setting. Students obtain hands-on skill development related to the perioperative scrub and circulating nurse role. Students develop the communication skills required when working with interprofessional team members in order to provide safe, patient-centered care while upholding the ORNAC standards.

During this course, students have an opportunity to apply their theoretical learning and lab skills development in the clinical environment over a five-week placement (200 hours). Students work with their preceptors to apply the essential skills required to care for a patient and work with the interprofessional team in the perioperative setting. Clinical competencies are assessed by the preceptor who must be approved by the Perioperative Program Coordinator.

Students can complete this placement full-time (200 hours/five weeks consecutively) or in a hybrid manner (80 hours/two weeks full-time, followed by 120 hours completed in a part-time manner).