Perioperative Nursing/LPN

Advanced Certificate
Perioperative Nursing/LPN

Program Overview

If you’re a licensed practical nurse who enjoys working directly with patients in a fast-paced environment, explore Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Perioperative Nursing/LPN program. You could be a scrub nurse working directly with surgeons or a circulating nurse participating in surgical procedures and assisting anaesthetists. Our online program lets you build your professional credentials while looking after family and job responsibilities.

Perioperative Nursing/LPN is an advanced certificate program offered full-time or part-time through online distance education. Choose the full-time option to complete the program in eight months or the part-time option to complete the program in three years. You’ll learn aseptic technique and basic technical skills for working within a surgical environment.

Who Qualifies?

To enrol in the program, you must be currently licensed with the practical nurses’ licensing body in the province where you plan to do your clinical practice education. If you graduated from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Practical Nursing Program prior to 2001, or if you are a graduate of another institution’s licensed practical nursing program that did not include courses in administration of oral and IM medications and catheterization, you must provide proof of completion of the following courses:

  • Administration of Medications for LPNs or equivalent
  • NURS 1601 Catheterization of equivalent
  • PHAR 1602 IM Completer course or equivalent

Why Saskatchewan Polytechnic?

Sask Polytech is one of the most respected providers of nursing education in Canada. As a student, you’ll access innovative virtual reality videos of real surgery. Our emphasis on hands-on learning ensures you have the knowledge, the skills and the confidence you need to deliver patient care in the surgical environment.

Hands-on Learning

A one week lab lets you apply the technical skills you’ve studied online. You’ll practice in a safe, supervised setting using simulations. You’ll begin your 10-week clinical practice with a four-week instructor-led clinical practicum, followed by another six weeks of preceptored clinical practice in different surgical areas, including gynecology, urology and orthopedics. Clinical placements take place in Regina and Saskatoon. Out of province clinical placements are only available through a contractual arrangement between a health care facility and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Individuals must apply directly to one of the approved clinical sites, using the Site Confirmation form. Simply submit the completed form with your application to the program, or separately by fax or email as indicated on the form. If you wish to apply to more than one clinical site, you must submit a separate application with fee.

Maintain Your Professional Credentials

When you graduate, you can apply the program's course hours toward the continuing education requirements of the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) to maintain licensure.

Refer to Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

Career and Salary Information

Your Career

Perioperative nurses are in demand across Canada, thanks to evolving health care delivery models and advances in medical technology. It’s an exciting career path with a growing number of opportunities in urban and regional hospital operating rooms, ambulatory surgery centres, freestanding clinics and more.

Do you need help deciding if these careers could be a good fit for you? Contact Career Counselling Services or visit www.healthcareersinsask.ca.

Do you already know this is the program you want to take but need more detailed information or help applying?  Connect with a Recruitment Advisor.

Length and Start Date

Start Date(s):

August, October, January


Length: 33 weeks

Locations

  • Online/Distance options available

  • Some programs offered online or otherwise by distance (i.e., correspondence) include on-site labs, clinicals, practicums or work experiences. They may be offered course-by-course or full-time, or both, and deliveries may change over time.

Part-time Delivery

To graduate and receive a credential for this program, part-time students must apply to the program and be admitted before taking any program courses.

View the program page for a complete list of courses and additional information.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

  • Licensed with the practical nurses' licensing body in the province where you will participate in the clinical component. Your registration must be active and current to participate in the clinical component.
  • English Language Requirement

 

Graduates of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Practical Nursing Program prior to 2001 and graduates of a licensed practical nursing program that did not include administration of oral and intramuscular medications and catheterization must also provide proof of successfully completing:

  • Administration of Medications for LPNs (or equivalent)
  • NURS 1601 - Catheterization (or equivalent)
  • PHAR 1602 - Intramuscular Injection Completer (or equivalent)

Note

Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of the following upon admission into the program:

  • Current immunization records, and meet Saskatchewan Polytechnic requirements
  • Current CPR Health Care Provider/AED Level 'C' Certificate
  • Current N95 respirator mask testing. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility.
  • 2015 WHMIS Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility.

Admission Method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and Fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

 

2022/223 Academic Year

$4,700

Courses

Expand All +
Code
Name/Description
Credits
 
ANAT 266
Anatomy Review
1
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You will briefly review human anatomy and anatomical terminology in the context of perioperative nursing.
Credit Units: 1
Course Hours: 15.0
Prerequisites(s): NURS 246(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Prior Learning
CLIN 220
Perioperative Nursing Practice/LPN
27
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You will participate in a 10-week clinical experience that is limited to specific pre-selected agencies. Within the role of the LPN, you will integrate all aspects of the program into the delivery of patient care.
Credit Units: 27
Course Hours: 400.0
Prerequisites(s): NURS 202
Potential Learning Method(s): Clinical/Practicum, Online, Prior Learning
NURS 202
Psychomotor Skills Lab
2
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You will implement the theory and principles of perioperative nursing in the performance of basic skills. Selected psychomotor skills will be demonstrated and you will practice them in a laboratory setting.
Credit Units: 2
Course Hours: 30.0
Prerequisites(s): NURS 248
Potential Learning Method(s): Clinical/Practicum, Online, Prior Learning
NURS 214
Perioperative Nurse Anesthesia/LPN
2
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You will gain an understanding of the principles of nursing care for patients during induction and emergence from anesthesia. You will also gain an understanding of emergency care protocols.
Credit Units: 2
Course Hours: 30.0
Prerequisites(s): NURS 250
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Prior Learning
NURS 244
Surgical Environment
4
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You will be introduced to the principles of asepsis, sterilization, disinfection and infection prevention through the implementation of perioperative nursing care standards. You will learn basic technical skills necessary to prepare yourself and the patient for a surgical procedure.
Credit Units: 4
Course Hours: 60.0
Equivalent Course(s): NURS 209
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Prior Learning
NURS 246
Surgical Equipment
2
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You will learn how to identify, arrange, use and care for surgical instruments and accessory surgical equipment. You will learn to safely prepare and handle supplies for surgical wound closure, perform a surgical count, and manage surgical specimens.
Credit Units: 2
Course Hours: 30.0
Prerequisites(s): NURS 244, (NURS 245 or NURS 250)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Prior Learning
NURS 248
Surgical Procedures
4
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You will focus on the nursing actions to be performed by the scrub and circulating nurse during surgical procedures and the specialized care requirements of pediatric, geriatric and morbidly obese patients.
Credit Units: 4
Course Hours: 60.0
Prerequisites(s): ANAT 266, (NURS 247(concurrent) or NURS 214(concurrent))
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Prior Learning
NURS 250
Perioperative Nursing Process/LPN
3
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You will apply the nursing process to perioperative nursing care. You will discuss factors that influence communication and identify safety considerations relevant to the perioperative setting. You will discuss professional responsibilities related to both the licensed practical nurse (LPN) scrub and circulating roles in perioperative nursing. You will relate these perioperative principles to the LPN role in surgery centers.
Credit Units: 3
Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): NURS 244(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Prior Learning
Total semester credits: 45

Get Credit for What You Know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.


Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Additional Information

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