Surgical Education Learners Forum/Perioperative Nursing

▼This is the landing page for the Perioperative Nursing Curriculum

This curriculum is developed by SELF and its partners. Please see the Intuitive Foundation Terms of Use and do not edit without permission.

In this perioperative nursing module series, learners will develop hands-on knowledge of the operating room environment — from room setup and sterile field establishment to surgical scrubbing, instrument handling, and electrosurgical techniques. Topics advance through laparoscopic and orthopedic procedure support, implant handling, wound management, and emergency skills including AED use. By the end of the series, learners will be prepared to function competently and safely as members of a perioperative nursing team.

This course is open access and may be used in any other certified program free of charge. It is not currently open edit, however, directors of accredited programs who are interested in contributing material or suggesting improvements are encouraged to contact us.

• Setting up the Operating Room
• Setting up the Sterile Field
• Instrument Handling and Maintaining Sterile Field
• Skin Preparation and Draping
• Surgical Scrubbing
• Donning Sterile Gown and Gloves
• Surgical Assistance
• Surgical Counting
• Specimen Collection
• Laparoscopy Setup and Assistance
• Orthopedic Equipment Setup and Assistance

• Vital Signs Monitoring
• Patient Transfer
• Surgical Wound Dressing
• Suturing and Suture Removal
• Defibrillation

These training modules are developed by the East, Central, and Southern Africa College of Nursing and Midwifery for the Surgical Education Learners Forum.