Course Overview
In this 150-hour clinical course, learners will implement theory from NSPO 7100, 7250/7251, and 7450/7451 in the practice setting and develop novice competency in the circulating nurse role. Licensed Practical Nurse learners will provide care for stable patients with predictable outcomes undergoing anesthesia and surgery in collaboration with Registered Nurses. By engaging in nursing practices, learners will develop the skills to prepare stable and non-complex patients for anesthesia and surgery and support them during the procedures. The course will emphasize the circulating nurse's collaborative role with patients, colleagues, instructors, and multidisciplinary team members. Learners will have the opportunity to perform circulating nurse activities through a team nursing approach in the perioperative setting. Learners will create opportunities to humanize the perioperative environment for patients and team members using collaborative strategies and gain further insight into the concept of caring as they work in partnership with patients and families during surgery and anesthesia. Learners will apply key concepts of safety, surgical conscience, and aseptic technique in the circulating role to promote a safe and supportive environment for patients and perioperative team members. Learners will work in partnership with the Registered Nurses to employ leadership strategies during clinical practice. By course completion, learners will implement a framework for practice and develop skills to function collaboratively as a novice circulating nurse.
Prerequisite(s)
- S in NSPO 7350
Credits
6.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
As a healthcare practitioner, you are expected to follow professional standards of practice throughout all SN programs and courses. In this course, you will have opportunities to use the processes of critical thinking, systematic inquiry, communication, collaboration, leadership, professionalism, and clinical decision-making. Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
Upon successful completion of this course, learners should be able to:
- Apply the BCCNM LPN Scope of Practice to care for perioperative patients with stable and predictable states of health in collaboration with a registered nurse.
- Implement current ORNAC Guidelines for Perioperative Practice and relevant theory in the circulating role.
- Organize and prioritize core entry-level activities in the circulating role for stable and non-complex patients undergoing non-complex surgery.
- Use a practice framework to gather information in an organized and systematic manner through patient assessment, conversational interview, and the preoperative checklist.
- Collect various sources of information to identify potential and actual patient and procedure problems and consult with team members to determine when patient's acuity level is beyond LPN's Scope of Practice
- Recognize when to communicate assessment findings in a timely, comprehensive, and systematic manner to team members.
- Use appropriate and effective communication techniques with patients, families, and team members.
- Correctly complete perioperative documentation.
- Practice surgical conscience to patient care in the circulating role.
- Ensure safe, competent and ethical care with patients and families.
- Advocate for patients in the circulating role.
- Protect self, patient and team members from risks and hazards encountered in the perioperative environment.
- Recognize factors within the healthcare environment that contribute to inequitable healthcare experiences.
- Independently implement a plan for individualized patient-centered care in the circulating role using a clinical decision-making framework.
- Demonstrate collaboration with a Registered Nurse when plan of care is beyond LPN Scope of Practice.
- Make sound clinical decisions related to patient assessment and admission, anesthesia induction and emergence, surgical intervention and the sterile environment, both independently and collaboratively when necessary.
- Implement reflective practice through self-assessments and journal reflections.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2026
Related Programs
LPN Perioperative Clinical 2: Implementing the Circulating Nurse Role (NSPO 7540) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Health Sciences
- Perioperative Nursing Specialty
Advanced Certificate Part-time
- Specialty Nursing (Perioperative)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Part-time
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.