This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills required to provide safe patient care. Each phase of perioperative care will be reviewed, along with the potential risks to the surgical patient. Areas of emphasis will include the needs of the surgical patient, patient transportation, intraoperative positioning techniques, the surgical skin prep, electrocautery safety, and correct patient identification and procedure protocols. Urinary catheterization and emergency patient situations will also be introduced. Risk management, particularly in the form of sentinel events, will be discussed in detail. Coping mechanisms related to death and dying will also be introduced.
Prerequisites
All previously required and concurrent courses per the academic plan or with consent of the faculty.