Course Overview
This course builds on the concepts and frameworks presented in prerequisite courses. Learners focus on how perioperative nurses provide care in the circulating role for patients undergoing common, less complex surgeries and anesthesia. Students learn how circulating nurses assess and prepare patients and families for anesthesia and surgery. Participants will continue learning about the key concepts of caring, safety, aseptic technique, and surgical conscience. Learners will consider how these concepts are used to maintain a safe and supportive perioperative environment for patients and team members. The course introduces theory that forms the basis for the development of circulating nurse skills in preparation for clinical learning. Clinical decision-making frameworks that guide practice are reviewed and applied to the circulating role. Participants will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and disease processes to deepen their understanding of perioperative nursing in the circulating role. Learners will examine ways of developing collaborative relationships with patients, colleagues, instructors, and perioperative team members. Participants will also consider how to employ effective leadership strategies, including advocacy and effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills during the perioperative period.
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Domestic fees
$982.79
International fees are typically 3.4 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:
- Use relevant, current ORNAC Guidelines for Perioperative Practice to explain activities in the circulating role: admitting and assessing patients; monitoring patients; assisting with anesthesia induction and emergence; positioning; performing skin preps; setting up the sterile environment; counting; and processing specimens.
- Explain how to use a practice framework in the circulating role to assess and admit patients of different ages with actual and potential health problems.
- Explain how circulating nurses employ a patient-centred plan of care to anticipate and address physiological and emotional risks of anesthesia for patients.
- Identify risks and hazards associated with the perioperative environment and equipment for patients and team members.
- Describe circulating nurse activities that minimize risks and hazards and promote patient and team safety.
- Explain the potential emotional and physical impact of the perioperative environment on patients, families, and team members.
- Describe communication techniques that promote effective perioperative team partnerships and collaboration.
- Discuss perioperative documentation performed by circulating nurses.
- Critically analyze independent and collaborative activities of circulating nurses that facilitate safe and ethical patient care within the perioperative team.
- Explain how circulating nurses apply surgical conscience to promote patient safety and healing.
- Explain how circulating nurses enact caring with patients and families.
- Explain how circulating nurses advocate for patients and families.
- Explain how circulating nurses use ways of knowing the individual (case, patient and person) to care for patients.
- Communicate a plan for patient-centered care in the circulating role, using reflective critical-thinking skills and a clinical decision-making framework.
Effective as of Fall 2026
Related Programs
Perioperative Theory 3: The Nurse in the Circulating Role (NSPO 7450) 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
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below is one offering of NSPO 7450 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 39912
Dates
Sep 08 - Nov 27 Loading
- CRN 39912
- $982.79 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 08 - Nov 27 | 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 textbooks to be purchased from the bookstore.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
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.