Learn how to assess, assist and treat patients through all phases of surgery: pre-operative, operative and post-operative.
Why study Perioperative Nursing?
- Perioperative nurses are in short supply – and, to complicate matters, dwindling in number. In California alone, as many as 20% of all perioperative nurses are set to retire in the next five years.
- To create this program, we worked closely with our partners in health care to identify the most useful and professionally attractive skills for perioperative nursing. In a single, eight-week course, you’ll receive the advanced preparation needed to begin a career in any aspect of the field.
- The curriculum is based also on standards provided by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) – the field’s leading professional organization.
Why study Perioperative Nursing at CSUN?
In addition to being a national leader in nursing education, CSUN is closely connected to many top hospitals and clinics in the region. To help you receive your clinical hours, CSUN arranges placements for all area residents, matching you with the health care facility best suited to your needs. This allows you to focus on learning the methods, principles and practices of perioperative nursing, without worrying about the logistics.
For your convenience, you can also earn your clinical hours at a qualified workplace, such as your current hospital or clinic. This arrangement is ideal if you hope to build new skills but prefer the comfort of a familiar setting.
The bulk of your time will be spent on clinical work, helping you to hone your hands-on abilities and prepare for the rigors of the surgical process. The clinical component of the certificate is 12 hours per week. This equates, between course work and fieldwork, to a total of 144 hours for the entire program.
This program is offered through self-support. Visit Tseng College for more information.
What You'll Learn
In this non-credit program, you’ll learn:
- The perioperative nursing process through all phases of surgery
- Aseptic techniques, instrumentation, and equipment operation
- Anesthesia and medication safety
- Prevention of injuries and wound management
- Communication methods to collaborate with surgical teams
- Ethical, legal and sociocultural principles related to perioperative nursing
Careers & Outcomes
If you’re employed at a local hospital and would like to switch disciplines into a high-demand field, then this is an excellent option for you. The career outlook for perioperative nurses is outstanding, growing at a rate of 1-2% each year, with nearly a quarter of all perioperative nurses set to retire by 2025.
Of the 25 nursing specialties, perioperative is the sixth highest in demand and is expected to grow by 20%. It pays more as well: the average OR nurse’s salary is 25% higher than that of a registered nurse.
Top Job Titles & Salaries:
- Operating Room Nurse: $101,200
- Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse: $97,700
- Medical/Surgical Nurse Manager: $97,700
- Surgical Services Manager: $95,100
- Travel Nurse (Medical/Surgical): $87,400
- Clinical Nurse: $83,300
- Director of Perioperative Services: $100,000+
- Surgical Unit Nurse: $70,000
- Chief Nursing Officer: $128,900
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: $99,700
- Clinical Educator, Perioperative: $101,800