COURSE CURRICULUM

The Registered Practical Nurse – Perioperative Nursing (Graduate Certificate) at Fleming College has a focused one-semester curriculum that combines theory, lab training, and clinical placement to prepare students for operating room roles. The program includes two main components: Perioperative Nursing Fundamentals and Perioperative Clinical Placement. In the theory portion, students learn the complete surgical patient journey across pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases while developing knowledge of perioperative standards, patient care, and interprofessional roles within the operating room team. They gain practical skills such as aseptic and sterile techniques, patient preparation and positioning, and understanding the responsibilities of scrub and circulating nurses. The program also incorporates simulation-based lab training to practice these skills in a controlled environment. Following the academic and lab component, students complete a 160-hour clinical placement in an operating room, where they apply their learning in real healthcare settings under supervision. During this placement, they develop competencies in handling surgical instruments, maintaining sterile environments, assisting surgical teams, and ensuring patient safety throughout procedures. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, professional standards, and real-world experience, ensuring graduates are fully prepared to work effectively as part of a surgical team in perioperative nursing roles.