Perioperative Series: Principles of Operative Technique

Course Code: REL-ACU-0-PSSSH

Hours: 1.25

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2025

Learning Objectives:
Describe the principles of sterile technique and considerations for maintaining the sterile field.
Identify techniques for working within and around the sterile fields.
Recall best practices for handling common surgical instruments.

Outline:

Section 1: Introduction

About This Course

Learning Objectives

Section 2: Sterility Concepts

Aseptic vs. Sterile

Hand Hygiene

Sterile Attire

Creating a Sterile Field

Establishing Sterile Borders

Review

Section 3: Surgical Instruments and Techniques

Instrument 101

Structure of Ring Instruments

Practice

Classification of Instruments

Bowel Isolation Technique

Review

Section 4: Surgery Dance

Complement the Surgeon

The Beat of Surgery

Move to the Beat

Follow the Routine

Avoid Overhandling

Review

Section 5: Conclusion

Course Summary

Course Contributors

References

Subject Matter Expert: Brandy Verton, BSN, RN, CNOR

Brandy earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with summa cum laude distinction from Capella University. She is a certified perioperative nurse with versatile skills in circulator and scrub roles for different surgical specialties. Brandy has fulfilled several nursing leadership responsibilities as the Surgical Services Clinical Educator and Periop 101 instructor for UNC REX Healthcare in North Carolina. She has been an active member of various hospital committees and contributed to numerous process improvement initiatives. In the early stages of her career, she developed her core nursing skills while working on a postoperative and medical-surgical overflow unit. She served in various roles, including charge nurse, preceptor, Magnet Champion, and admission/discharge facilitator. Currently, Brandy works as a perioperative subject matter expert and course writer at Relias.

Instructor: Brian C Sheridan, CST

Brian is an accomplished certified surgical technologist with over 19 years of experience. He graduated cum laude on the Dean’s list for outstanding academic achievement with a certificate in Surgical Technology from Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. He is well-versed in a variety of specialties including multi-surgeon complex cancer cases. As a preceptor, he enjoys sharing his knowledge with new surgical technologists and nurses, teaching them the fundamentals of the scrub role. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Nurses; Surgical Technologists; in the following settings: Acute Care Facility.

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All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.

To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.