Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Classroom, laboratory, and clinically based learning activities are expected to enable students to demonstrate proactive preparation and education of patients throughout the perioperative experience including preoperative interviewing and assessment, patient rights and advocacy, postoperative evaluation, and interdisciplinary liaison with health professionals; fundamental perioperative nursing practices and procedures including ensuring patient and staff safety, instrumentation and use of equipment, maintenance of asepsis, haemostatsis, and specimen care; knowledge of the differing needs of adults and children undergoing surgery; cognitive and psychomotor skills relating to surgical intervention in order to provide nursing support and assistance during the intraoperative phase of general, gastrointestinal, and urological surgery.
Synopsis This subject commences with a thorough introduction to the cognitive and psychomotor skills fundamental to perioperative nursing. It provides students with an understanding of surgical techniques and procedures which enable the perioperative nurse to collaborate with other members of the health care team in achieving optimal surgical outcomes. Students will learn theoretical and clinical concepts relating to general, gastrointestinal and urological surgery in adults and children.
Assessment An examination, and by clinical performance standards.