Postgraduate Anaesthetic & Recovery Nursing Course

This course aims to assist students to develop their skills in providing holistic perioperative care, including person and family-centred health promotion.  Students will examine complex health problems and situations, including potential complications and emergencies in the anaesthetic and recovery environment.  The course focuses on working within the collaborative team to care for people and families during the perioperative phase and aims to facilitate the student’s ability to articulate the evidence base for clinical decisions.  

Course Dates

The course commences in February 2024 and concludes in August 2024. 

Fees

There are no fees associated with this course to St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney staff.
$500 Per Unit will be charged to St Vincent’s Health Australia group ( eg. St Vincent’s Private Sydney and Mater Hospital). 

Features of the Course

Clinical Experience & Visits: Students undertaking the SVHS Anaesthetic & Recovery Nursing Foundations Course gain clinical experience in anaesthetic nursing for a variety of surgical specialties and procedures, and recovery nursing for patients with a broad range of acuity.  A unique feature of the course is rotations and experiences in other areas including: rotations to the circulating and instrument nurse role, to intensive care and to an obstetrics unit; allocation to the admission, recovery 2 and discharge areas of the Day Procedure Centre; and experience with the perioperative medicine/pre-admission clinic team and the pain management team.

Assessments: Student progress is assessed throughout the course on an individual basis utilising a variety of assessment methods and tools.  Assessments will include specialty clinical competencies; clinical workbooks and problem-based learning packages, professional performance reviews, presentations, and written assessments.

Study Days: Five (5) study days are allocated for clinically focused learning.  The content of these Study Days is designed to complement the theoretical content of tertiary programs.  Teaching and Learning strategies may include lectures and tutorials, clinical visits, literature appraisal, discussions, assessments, workshops, self-directed learning opportunities, and presentations.

Educational and Clinical Support: Emphasis is placed on adult learning principles, which encourage individuals to take responsibility for personal and professional development.  The Nurse Educator’s responsibility is in teaching participants effective learning strategies such as independent and/or self-directed learning.  This type of learning contributes to personal and professional growth, promotes lifelong learning, and enables the individual to pursue excellence in patient care.  All clinical areas have Educators and Clinical Nurse Specialists to provide guidance and support.

Affiliation with Australian Universities

It is recommended all students complete a tertiary program in addition to the St Vincent’s Hospital Postgraduate Anaesthetic & Recovery Foundations Course with aim of completing a Graduate Certificate and the option of continuing to Diploma or Masters.  

Scholarships

Scholarships are available through various organisations, such as the NSW Ministry of Health and the NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.  SVHS also sometimes offers scholarships in an endeavour to support RNs to undertake tertiary based Post Graduate study. 

Credits

SVHS is currently negotiating with Australian Catholic University (ACU). University of Tasmania (UTas) has awarded formal credit agreement for one unit of a graduate certificate course- CNA534.  It is anticipated that students who successfully complete the St Vincent’s Hospital Specialty Nursing Foundations Course will be able to apply to these universities for credit through the normal credit application procedures.  Further details regarding the credit arrangements will be made available as soon as possible. 

Applications

Closing Date: 15th December 2023
Applicants are required to complete an online application form.

Proposed Interview date:  20th December 2023

Student Selection 

The selection of St Vincent’s Hospital Anaesthetic & Recovery Nursing Foundations Course students is based on academic and employment suitability. 

To be eligible for the Specialty Nursing Units & Course nurses must:

  • Have a minimum of 12 months’ post registration nursing experience. 
  • A minimum of 6 months anaesthetic and/or recovery nursing or intensive care nursing experience.
  • Be employed within the Operating Suite of St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney (SVHS) or St. Vincent’s Private Hospital (SVPH) for the duration of the course.  
  • Have the support of and a positive appraisal from current Nurse Unit Manager.
  • Have completed all SVHS/SVPH mandatory training.

Other desirable criteria include: 

  • A minimum of 12 months’ perioperative, anaesthetic or recovery nursing experience
  • Concurrent enrolment in tertiary clinical nursing course.
Contact

St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney
Nakita Magua, Nurse Educator Perioperative Courses: 
Phone: 02 8382 2653
Email: Nakita.magus@svha.org.au

Lingmeng Ding, Acting Nurse Educator Perioperative Courses: 
Phone: 02 8382 2653 
Email: lingmeng.ding@svha.org.au