Course Overview
In this course, we start out by considering what makes perioperative nursing distinctive from other areas of nursing. We discuss what caring looks like in the perioperative area, and how it is enacted by perioperative nurses. You will learn about the complementary scrub and circulating nursing roles, and their related activities. You will have the opportunity to consider how professional scope of practice will guide your nursing activities in this setting. We then move to patient-centered care by looking at strategies for how the nurse can seek to understand the patient’s individual perioperative experience using framing concepts of vulnerability and dignity. You’ll consider how to provide ethical perioperative care based in relational practice, and how to advocate for patients and families. We will relate the concept of health to perioperative patients, and reflect on how the perioperative nurse promotes health. You will learn about environmental and cultural factors unique to the perioperative setting, and how these factors affect team function, patient care, and the patient’s lived experience. You will be introduced to the importance of self-care in this setting. We will look at how partnership is enacted in this specialty area. You will consider communication and interprofessional collaboration as they relate to perioperative patients and teams. We take an in-depth look at the CIHC National Interprofessional Competency Framework to help you think about how perioperative teams can work together effectively to promote safe patient care and a culture of safety. The modules that focus on clinical decision-making and the Situated Clinical Decision-making Framework are important to help you develop your perioperative nursing foundational knowledge. You will consider case study applications of the Framework in preparation for future perioperative theory and clinical learning. We conclude the course with how you can prepare for the transition from your current area of nursing practice to perioperative nursing.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
Domestic fees
$305.40 - $963.23 See individual course offerings below for actual costs.
International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
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:
- Describe perioperative nursing practice and roles.
- Identify strategies the perioperative nurse can use to understand the patient’s experience of anesthesia and surgery.
- Articulate strategies used by perioperative nurses to enact patient-centered care and advocacy with patients and families.
- Explain how the concepts of health, illness, vulnerability and dignity apply to the patient’s experiences of anesthesia and surgery.
- Identify strategies to enact and support interprofessional collaboration and partnership between perioperative team members.
- Identify strategies that perioperative nurses can use to manage risks and hazards, promote patient safety and protect patient dignity in the perioperative setting.
- Explain how perioperative nurses use ways of knowing (case, patient and person) to provide safe and ethical patient-centered care.
- Demonstrate reflective critical thinking skills through application of the Situated Clinical Decision-making Framework.
- Discuss how perioperative nurses can enact beginning collaborative leadership skills.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2023
Related Programs
Perioperative Theory 1: Developing Perioperative Partnerships (NSPO 7100) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Health Sciences
- Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Full-time
- Perioperative Nursing Specialty
Advanced Certificate Part-time
- Specialty Nursing (Perioperative)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Part-time
Course Offerings
Spring/Summer 2026
Below are three offerings of NSPO 7100 for the Spring/Summer 2026 term.
CRN 25900
Dates
Apr 07 - Jun 26 Loading
- CRN 25900
- $963.23 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07 - Jun 26 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Valerie Johnson
Course outline
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- This is online guided learning with one textbook to be purchased from the bookstore; all other course materials are online
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 25901
Dates
Apr 07 - Jun 26 Loading
- CRN 25901
- $305.40 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07 - Jun 26 | N/A | N/A | Online |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Valerie Johnson
Course outline
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course offering. Departmental approval is required for this course offering. You will not be able to register without it.
Important information
- Available for re-registration (course extension) only.
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- This course section is for students who require an extension to complete their course from the previous term. Re-registration is a one-time only option. Please contact the program assistant at 604-432-8875.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval Departmental approval is required for this course offering. You will not be able to register without it.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 28602
Dates
Apr 07 - Jun 26 Loading
- CRN 28602
- $493.34 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07 - Jun 26 | N/A | N/A | Distance |
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Valerie Johnson
Course outline
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course offering. Departmental approval is required for this course offering. You will not be able to register without it.
Important information
- Available for exam challenge only.
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- This section is for students who wish to CHALLENGE the course. Departmental Approval reguired. Contact the Program Assistant at 604-432-8875. Students need to contact the Bookstore in order to obtain course materials for this section.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval Departmental approval is required for this course offering. You will not be able to register without it.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.