Surgical and Perioperative Nursing (5 cr)

Objective

Students
- can plan, implement and evaluate surgical and perioperative nursing in multiprofessional workgroups in different operating environments
- are able to plan, implement and evaluate the patient’s evidence-based anaesthetic and surgical nursing in multiprofessional workgroups under supervision
- understand the significance of nurses’ role to the health promotion of surgical and perioperative nursing
- know how to evaluate the needs of surgical patients and respond to them using nursing interventions and methods
- can guide and support patients requiring surgical and perioperative care and their significant others by using appropriate guidance methods
- understand the importance of safeguarding the continuity of care for surgical and perioperative patients from the perspective of patient safety

Content

- nursing process in surgical and perioperative nursing
- care path of patients requiring surgical care
- monitoring patients requiring surgical nursing care (ABCDE, NEWS, ISBAR)
- nursing procedures in the care of surgical patients (e.g. surgical wound care and treatment of acute pain)
- support the coping and decision-making of surgical patients and their significant others during the course of illness and care
- the most common patient groups requiring surgery
- documentation and reporting of surgical patients
- anaesthesiology and surgery
- perioperative nurse’s tasks in surgical units: anaesthesiological nurse, instrument nurse, circulating nurse and recovery nurse
- general forms of anaesthesia and medicines used during anaesthesia
- monitoring patient safety
- postoperative monitoring and care
- aseptic work methods in the operative environment

Location and time

weeks 3- 11/2025

Materials

Ahonen O, Blek-Vehkaluoto M, Ekola S, Partamies S, Sulosaari V, Uski-Tallqvist T. 2019. 8. uudistettu painos. Kliininen hoitotyö, sisätauteja, kirurgisia sairauksia ja syöpätauteja sairastavan hoito. SanomaPro Oy. (Reading areas please look in finnish text).

Hinkle, J. L., Cheever K. H., Overbaugh K .2021 Brunner & Suddarth's textbook of medical-surgical nursing. 15th Edition, Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
pages will be given at orientation

Perioperative nursing, english book used given at orientation
Aura, S., Kinnunen, T. 2022. Perioperatiivinen hoitotyö. 1.painos 2022. Sanoma Pro Oy.

Materials provided by teachers

Aikuispotilaan kirurgisen toimenpiteen jälkeisen lyhytkestoisen kivun hoitotyö. Hoitotyön tutkimussäätiö. Hoito suositus. Verkko-osoitteessa http://www.hotus.fi/hotus-fi/aikuispotilaan-kirurgisen-toimenpiteen-jalkeisen-lyhytkestoisen-kivun-hoitotyo
Possible related NICE recommendations given during the course

Surgical and perioperative drug calculations may be practised in Moodle "Lääkelaskut" (Drug calculations), no access key needed

Teaching methods

Teaching methods:
Activating lectures
Flipped learning
Laboratory skills
Co-operative learning
Independent assignments
Independent online courses: Akuutin kivun hoito (Acute pain management) and Haavanhoidon ABC (ABC of wound management)
Drug calculation exam
Theory exam

Employer connections

Clinical practice 2025

Exam schedules

Exam ______
1. re-exam _______
2. re-exam _______
Re-exam may be attempted twice on announced re-exam dates, failure in will lead to re-studying the entire course. Course grade may be upgraded in 1.re-exam arranged. Instructions to enrolling into re-exam or upgrading will be found in course moodle.


Drug calculations:
First attempt in Course orientation.
Re-exam 1 please see your course schedule
Uusinta 2 please see your course schedule

International connections

-

Completion alternatives

N/A

Student workload

1 cr= 27 hours of student work

Entire course is worth 5 credits eg. 135 hours, of which contact teaching is:
Surgical and perioperative nursing orientation 1 hr
Course theory exams: perioperative exam and surgical nursing exam (1 hour/ exam)
Drug calculations 1 hr
Surgical nursing 2,5 cr= 67,5 hrs
Lectures 8 hrs
Clinical laborations skills 2x4 hrs (in small groups)
Perioperative nursing (2,5 cr=67,5hrs)
Lectures 9 hrs
Clinical laboration skills 1x3 hrs and 1x5 hrs (in small groups)
Independent study 98 hrs

Content scheduling

Course is implemented in weeks 3-11 . Further information related to course schedule and contents will be provided in Orientation.
Course includes:
- Surgical and perioperative nursing
- Surgery and Anesthesiology
- Drug calculations

Further information

Pre-requirements to participate this course:

Accepting on this course requires that student has accomplished the following clinical studies in nursing: Clinical nursing practise 1, clinical nursing practise 2 and Pharmacotherapy 1.

By attending Orientation student confirms his/her place on this course and it is compulsory. If student is ill and therefore, he/she can confirm the place on the course by informaing the teacher beforehand.

Participating in theoritical lectures is pre-requirement for being able to participate in clinical laboratory skills. In case student is absent he/she will find out about the contents of lessons from fellow students.

Clinical laboratory skills classes are mandatory and protective work wear is needed for participation. Aseptic rules and regulations are being obeyed during these classes. Accepted laboratory skills require student to practise and participate actively and to obey and fulfill patient safety regulations and seeking feedback and guidance from the teacher.

Successful completion of the course requires student to independently study course literature and other material provided by the teacher before and after contact lessons and laboratory skills.

It is recommended for students to practise and rehearse clinical skills independently in "Taitopaja" Skills stations during the course.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

See the attachment "Framework for evaluation criteria of competence"

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation scale 0-5, online learning 1 cr

Exam 0-5, (perioperative nursing exam and surgical nursing exam)

Drug calculations Accepted-Failed

Online courses and assignments 100% (Study regulations: Course assignments need to be completed during the course)

Clinical laborations skills: 100% participation

Qualifications

Basics of Clinical Nursing Competence.
Basic knowledge of Pharmacotherapy.