Theatre Nursing
A four week online tutored CPD course with Alison Young
Following completion of the tutored course, you now have unlimited lifetime access to the learning resources. These are provided for future reference only, and no further CPD hours may be claimed for reviewing the materials.
Week 1
Preparing for Surgery
- Organisation of rooms and equipment in the theatre area
- Scheduling and planning surgical caseload
- Infection control related to the surgical theatre
- Preparation of the patient for surgery
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand the basics of infection control in the operating theatre
- Identify the correct order of surgical procedures based on availability of equipment, personnel and rooms
- Prepare the patient for a range of procedures, including preparation of skin, eyes and mucous membranes
- Develop infection control protocols relating to procedure in their own practice
Week 2
The Theatre Nurse’s Role
- Circulating nurse duties
- Preparing the surgical team
- Surgical hand preparation
- Scrub nurse role
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand the key qualities and requirements for the circulating nurse and scrub nurse roles
- Identify the correct products and techniques for an effective surgical hand preparation and be able to demonstrate those
- Choose appropriate protocols for the preparation of the surgical team
- Correctly position patients for a range of surgical procedures
Week 3
Instrumentation and Sterilisation
- Common surgical instrumentation
- Taking care of your instruments and equipment
- What happens after surgery!
- Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Identify common surgical instruments and understand their use
- Develop the skills to take apart and reassemble surgical equipment for the cleaning process
- Understand the key sterilisation techniques used in veterinary medicine
Week 4
Bringing it all Together – Surgical Skills for Nurses
- Suture material – what to use and when?
- Common suture patterns
- Surgical skills
- Developing the surgical nurse’s role in practice
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Identify properties of suture material and understand how that helps guide the choice of which one to use
- Demonstrate common surgical suture patterns that could be performed by a veterinary nurse
- Understand relevant surgical skills for veterinary nurses and how these can benefit your practice