We would like to welcome you to the Perioperative Nursing Licensed Practical Nurse’s Program (PNLPN). You are about to begin an exciting and challenging chapter in your career. Most of you have had very little exposure to the operating room, although some of you may have had an observational experience during your LPN training. The following online modules will provide a basic overview of both the skills and theory that are fundamental to perioperative nursing.
The Program was adapted from the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCHA) Perioperative Nursing Program that was developed for registered nurses. The PNLPN program encompasses many of the basic core concepts and competencies offered in the registered nurse program. The RN and LPN programs are differentiated based on the defined scopes of practice of each professional group.
As professionals, LPNs adhere to LPN standards of practice and Scope of practice (the range of activities that the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia (CLPNBC) authorizes LPNs to perform based on educational preparation and certification) .
The learning modalities of the Program include: online modules, classroom instruction, practice labs and supervised clinical experience.The first two months of the Program allow students to progress through the online modules to obtain a basic knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of perioperative nursing practice. The online modules are a prerequisite to the thirteen week full-time clinical component of the program. The focus of the full-time clinical portion of the Program is the application of knowledge to practice based on theory, ethical principles, research, specialized clinical skills and patient-centered care.