Postgraduate Perioperative Nursing Course

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Features of the course

Structured Clinical Rotations: A key feature of the Course are the clinical rotations which provide students the opportunity to gain clinical experience in the anaesthetic, circulating, instrument and recovery room nursing roles. Surgical specialties include: Cardiac, ENT, General, Gynecology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Plastics, Thoracic, Trauma, Urology and Vascular.  Programs may include rotations to other hospitals to meet specific clinical requirements such as Obstetrics experience.

Assessments: Student progress throughout Clinical rotations is assessed on an individual basis utilising a variety of assessment methods and tools.  Assessments will include specialty clinical competencies; clinical workbooks for specialty rotations, professional performance reviews, presentations and written assessments.

Study Days are allocated for clinically focused learning in both units.  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 Nurse Educators and Clinical Nurse Specialists to provide guidance and support.  

Course unit descriptions

Perioperative [Specialty] Nursing 1 (SN1)  

The aim of this unit is to prepare students to provide holistic care in perioperative nursing.  Students will examine and apply knowledge and skills for safe, competent person and family-centred care relevant to perioperative nursing.  The unit focuses on enabling students to perform a comprehensive health assessment and prioritise, implement and evaluate appropriate nursing care. 

Specialty Nursing 1 is conducted in first semester and includes five (5) study days (40 hours).

This unit may be undertaken independently of the Perioperative Nursing Course.

Perioperative [Specialty] Nursing 2 (SN2)  

This unit builds on and extends the knowledge and understanding acquired in [Specialty] Nursing 1. The aim is to transfer knowledge gained to develop further the nurses’ skills in providing holistic care. This will include person and family-centred health management in specialty practice. The focus of the unit is on transferring knowledge and enhancing nurses’ skills to work and advocate within the interdisciplinary team on planning and providing care for people and families experiencing complex and diverse health problems. The student’s ability to articulate the evidence base for clinical decisions will be facilitated.

Specialty Nursing 2 is conducted in second semester and includes five (5) study days (40 hours). SP1 is a pre-requisite for SP2.

This unit may be undertaken independently of the Perioperative Nursing Clinical Course.

Nomenclature of Award

A Certificate of Clinical Nursing Practice (Perioperative) is awarded by St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney on successful completion of the one year course. 

Affiliation with Australian Universities

It is recommended all students complete a tertiary program in addition to the St Vincent’s Hospital Postgraduate Perioperative Nursing Course with aim of completing a Graduate Certificate and the option of continuing to Diploma or Masters.  The following diagrams demonstrates examples of course structure.

Note:  To be eligible for the ‘Continuing Education Allowance’ at St Vincent’s Hospital RNs must complete 4 units of study.  

A formal credit agreement exists with Australian Catholic University (ACU) and University of Tasmania (UTas).  Students who successfully complete the specialty nursing units at St Vincent’s Hospital can apply to these universities for credit, as outlined below, through the normal course application procedures.

ACU

For further information regarding ACU post graduate course please go to the ACU website.   If you are interested in applying for the ACU course please advise the SVHS Nurse Educator who will contact ACU and request you be sent the special VIP ACU 2x2 Application link. 

UTAS

 

For further information regarding UTas go to the UTAS website or click here for UTAS Course Information.

Commonwealth/SVHS funded positions may be available upon application.