The role of a perioperative nurse is both challenging and crucial; requiring a unique skill set that encompasses clinical knowledge, technical competence, and soft skills.
In this article, we’ll explore how to develop your surgical ward nursing skills and navigate the unique challenges of providing specialised care in a perioperative environment.
Expand your knowledge by studying a Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing)
Improving your surgical ward nursing skills requires a commitment to continuous learning. Federation University Online’s Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) provides an opportunity to enhance your critical thinking and communication skills, and positions you as an ideal candidate for leadership roles.
Tailored explicitly for perioperative nursing professionals, this certificate program will:
- develop your core understanding of perioperative nursing and collaborative care
- sharpen your ability to manage and prioritise patients
- build on your in-depth knowledge of human pathophysiology
- deepen your clinical understanding of safe and effective care of patients in surgery
- bolster your confidence with surgical nurse skills
- enhance your employability in the dynamic field of perioperative nursing
For more information about how our postgraduate nursing courses can equip you with advanced operating theatre nurse skills, contact our Course Consultants.
Stay updated on surgical techniques and procedures
One of the key qualities of a perioperative nurse is a love of learning and a willingness to embrace new challenges. A great way to stay up-to-date with healthcare news is to subscribe to the nursing and midwifery newsletter – it’s also a great source of info about opportunities for professional development.
You can also keep your surgical ward nursing skills current by participating in workshops that focus on surgical advancements. Conferences and seminars provide insight into emerging clinical developments, while online resources offer convenient access to the latest research updates.
On a more regular basis, you can encourage knowledge exchange among your surgical team to ensure everyone is across the latest developments in theatre nurse skills. It might also be useful to organise a time to meet with a colleague in a senior role, so they can provide guidance and share what they’ve learnt with you.
Become familiar with anaesthetic equipment
In the clinical area of perianaesthesia nursing, care is provided to patients who are about to have, or have had, an anaesthetic. Perianaesthesia nurses assist anaesthetists in administering anaesthetic, and they’re also tasked with preparing the equipment.
If you’d like to expand or improve upon your operating room nurse skills, there are a number of ways you can increase your knowledge of anaesthetic equipment and procedures. A great online resource is The Aussie Nurse Educator, where you can find useful tips for nurses in perianaesthesia.
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) also provides useful online resources for perioperative nurses. The ANZCA guide to checking anaesthesia delivery systems is intended to assist healthcare practitioners to minimise equipment-related risks, and it applies wherever general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia, local anaesthesia and/or sedation are administered.
You can also update your knowledge by visiting the ANZCA YouTube page, where you’ll find educational videos and interviews with leaders in the field of anaesthesia.
Participate in simulations
Simulations make it possible to practise new skills and perfect your existing skills in a controlled setting. Making mistakes is all part of the learning process, and simulations provide valuable opportunities to grow and develop as a perioperative nurse.
To be the best nurse you can be, you should embrace any chance to participate in simulations. You can gain a more thorough understanding of techniques while developing your critical thinking skills.
Practising your scrub nurse skills will improve your confidence and reduce your chances of making a mistake while on the job. Plus, it will demonstrate that you’re committed to ongoing professional learning, which can broaden your career prospects and open the door to more senior roles.
Specialise in a particular area of surgery
Once you’ve been working in health care for a number of years and you feel fully accomplished in your operating room nurse competencies, you might like to consider moving into a more specialised field.
These are some areas that perioperative nurses can specialise in:
Cardiac nursing
Cardiac nurses are required to have specific knowledge of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, so they can provide care to patients with heart conditions. Their duties include conducting assessments of a patient’s cardiovascular health, managing post-operative care for patients who have undergone heart surgery, and working with cardiologists and emergency healthcare workers to stabilise patients in crises.
For more insights into this profession, The Heart Foundation has a great article written from the perspective of a cardiac nurse.
Neurosurgery nursing
In the specialised field of neurosurgery nursing, care is provided to patients with brain and spinal cord injuries/disorders. Neurosurgery nurses also work with neurosurgeons to plan and execute surgical procedures.
The ability to work well under pressure is essential for this role. Another important aspect of the job is working with physical/occupational therapists to manage patient symptoms, ensuring they receive appropriate levels of care as they recover from surgery.
Paediatric nursing
If you’re good with children, you might like to consider specialising in paediatric nursing. These nurses provide critical care for children and adolescents, across a wide range of healthcare settings.
Paediatric nurses prepare care plans for children of all ages and help to prepare patients for surgical procedures. They administer first aid, perform physical examinations, and provide post-operative care to help their patients recover from surgery. You can read more about what this role involves in the Seek guide to paediatric nursing.
Master the sterile environment
Perioperative nurses are responsible for maintaining a controlled sterile environment. This involves checking packages for sterility by making sure they’re sealed, and that they’re not past their expiry date. During surgery, you must maintain vigilance to make sure that sterile objects remain sterile – this means only touching them with sterile gloves/equipment, and keeping all sterile items above waist level.
To ensure that sterility is maintained, you should keep the sterile fields in sight throughout the entire procedure. Sterile trays need to be set up close to the time of use, and you need to maintain a margin of safety between sterile and non-sterile areas to avoid contamination.
Learn advanced surgical ward nursing skills
Federation University Online’s Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) is the ideal course for perioperative nurses looking to extend their skills and become leaders in their field.
For more information, chat to our Course Consultants or download a brochure. You can also apply online today to take the next exciting step in your nursing career.
