Perioperative Nursing
Introduction to Perioperative Nursing (SLHN1001)
Offered in partnership with St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network
Overview of the course
Northampton Community College, in partnership with St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network, is offering a non-credit, 16-week distance-learning course in Perioperative Nursing.
 This course is appropriate for the experienced RN or graduate nurse who wants to work in any of the following settings: an Operating Room (OR), an ambulatory surgery center, or a short procedure unit. RN's who function in units where invasive procedures are performed on a routine basis can also benefit from this course.
The goal of this introductory-level program in Perioperative Nursing is to provide an experienced RN or graduate nurse with the basic knowledge to get started as a perioperative nurse. The program includes both didactic activities and a hospital-based operating room clinical preceptor program.
Course Credentialing
Contact hours for this continuing nursing education activity have been applied for through the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, Inc., an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission of Accreditation.
Activities that are approved by AORN are recognized as continuing education for registered nurses. This recognition does not imply that AORN or the ANCC Commission on Accreditation approves or endorses any product included in this presentation. Contact hours: 32.4
Sponsorship Requirements
Participation in this course requires that the student be sponsored by a healthcare organization of their choice that can provide a clinical experience to supplement the didactic portion of this course. The sponsoring organization will agree to sponsor the student and sign a site agreement, which states that the student meets the enrollment requirements.
Additionally, the participating site will assign a clinical preceptor to the student for the duration of the course and give the student access to the Operating Room environment, which would enable the student to complete the weekly clinical requirements for the course. Student Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment in this course requires that the student meet ALL requirements. The student must:
- Be a Registered Nurse (RN) with an active state license or a Graduate Nurse with an active permit.
- Provide two letters of recommendation.
- Be BCLS certified.
- Agree to and sign the Sponsorship Agreement (PDF document).
- Have provisional coverage under the malpractice insurance policy of the sponsoring facility. If the student is not covered, the student must provide proof of malpractice insurance coverage.
Clinical Preceptor Requirements
The assigned clinical preceptor must meet the following requirements. The preceptor must:
- Be CNOR certified or be overseen by a nurse with CNOR certification.
- Be in good standing with their department.
- Be responsible for ensuring the student has a valuable clinical experience for the course.
- Work with the student to coordinate the weekly clinical activity.
- Intend to complete, sign, and date the weekly clinical activity checklist.
- Intend to email the course instructor on a weekly basis to communicate student's progress with clinical activities. (View the Preceptor Welcome Kit to learn more about the details of the clinical preceptor role in this course.)
Course Information
Using reading assignments, quizzes, web research, discussion forums, exams, and clinical activities, you will gain a fundamental understanding of Perioperative Nursing by the end of the program. Students will be able to function at the entry level in an operating room and begin the clinical requirement and area specialization for the facility.
During the course of the semester, students will learn about a variety of interesting topics as they relate to OR nursing, including standards for the perioperative nurse, prepping the patient, anesthesia, sterilization techniques, positioning the patient, and surgical specialties, among many other things. This course has weekly quizzes and a weekly discussion board.
The other key element to this course is the hands-on experience gained while working with a clinical preceptor to complete the clinical requirements for this course. Each week, there will be a checklist of clinical activities to complete. The clinical preceptor must sign off on the checklist indicating successful completion of the tasks by the end of the course.
This course has a Pass/Fail grading system. The student receives a Certificate of Completion in Introduction to Perioperative Nursing upon successful completion of the course requirements. Course Outline Introduction to Perioperative Nursing, SLHN1001
Course Schedules
The course follows a Monday-to-Monday schedule. Students may begin the coursework for a given class on each Monday at Noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST). All coursework requirements for the week are due the following Monday by Noon, EST. The instructor is flexible with student time to ensure the opportunity to work ahead, if needed.
Introduction to Perioperative Nursing
Course Code: SLHN1001
Section VF: Jan. 19-May 4, 2009
Course Fees
SLHN1001, Introduction to Perioperative Nursing $1500
How to Register
There are a number of ways to register:
| In person |
At the Records Office, in the Student Enrollment Center, Monday thru Thursday 8:00 AM-7:00 PM or Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM. (Closed Fridays during the summer.)
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| By mail |
Send Registration Form with payment or employer's purchase order to the Northampton Community College, Records Office, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020
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| By phone |
Registration fees charged to Master Card, Discover, VISA or American Express, Dial 1-877-543-0998
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| By FAX |
FAX registration form and employer's purchase order or authorization of payment to 610/861-5551 |
Student Registration Form (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format). If you need the free Acrobat Reader, download it here.
Sponsorship Agreement (PDF) and documentation that student requirements have been met should be sent to Judy Rex, 511 E. Third Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, FAX (610) 332-6556; phone number (610) 332-6585. Course Activities
The student will complete the assignments - web site research, discussion forum activity, quizzes and exams - within the Blackboard distance-learning environment. Another major assignment is the completion of the weekly Clinical Activity Checklist through hands-on experience at the sponsoring facility.
This non-credit program includes both didactic activities and a hospital-based operating room clinical preceptor program. Textbooks Required
Introduction to Perioperative Nursing, SLHN1001
1. Alexander's Care of the Patient in Surgery-13th edition by Jane C. Rothrock (ISBN: 0-323-03927-8)
2. Essentials of Perioperative Nursing - 3rd edition by Cynthia Spry
(ISBN: 0-7637-4835-8)
3. 2008 AORN Standards, Recommended Practices and Guidelines
(ISBN: 1-888460-63-6)
Course Grading
The following didactic components are included the student's grade. A total score of 80% or better for these components must be earned in order to receive a passing grade for this course.
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Discussion Forum Participation: 50%
Weekly Quizzes: 50%
- The other component of the student's grade is the Clinical Activity. Each week, the clinical preceptor will assign and report to the instructor one of three completion levels (successful, pending, or needs improvement). The student must have a "successful completion" mark by end of course for all 15 weeks of clinical activity in order to pass the clinical component of the course.
If a student is failing at any time during the course, the instructor will initiate a meeting to discuss with the student and preceptor to determine if there is successful progression on the student's part to warrant their continued participation in the course.
Those students who have a "Pass" grade at the end of the course will receive a Certificate of Completion in Introduction to Perioperative Nursing.
Contact Information
Contact Judy Rex at (610) 332-6585 or jrex@northampton.edu.
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