The NHS Scotland Academy is supporting the National Perioperative Training Programme (NPT) through accelerated workforce development.
Foundations of Perioperative Practice
The NPT's Accelerated Workforce Programme is offering accelerated education and training through a hub and spoke approach to Band 5 registered scrub nurses and recovery practitioners.
National Perioperative Training: Foundations of Perioperative Practice available on TURAS Learn.
What is the Foundations of Perioperative Practice?
The Foundations of Perioperative Practice is for newly qualified Band 5 registered scrub nurses and recovery practitioners working in the theatre environment.
Made up of pre-operative, perioperative and post-operative subjects, learners complete a post-graduate programme through online, face-to-face and simulated scenarios.
The programme supports the ongoing development of knowledge, capabilities and essential clinical skills needed to provide safe and effective care for patients across the perioperative environment.
Learners benefit from access to a bespoke, interactive digital learning package that introduces them to concepts before expanding on these in a face-to-face setting.
Learners can track their their progress and complete their work-based competencies through an online portfolio.
The face-to-face workshops allow learners to train in a patient and learner-safe environment where time can be spent developing their skills and application. Using a constructive approach, learners can gain and practice their skills in a simulated environment where they can determine the best course of action for the patient.
NHS Boards identify prospective learners and apply to the Scottish Government to secure the learner places.
Course structure
The programme runs across 31 weeks, including 9 immersive days of face-to-face training and online learning using the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) TURAS and Microsoft Teams platforms.
This teaching covers pre-surgical, surgical and post-surgical activities that relate to the perioperative role.
Learners benefit from this blended learning approach, incorporating immersive hands on training, ‘Applied Learning Days’ (ApLe) using specialty surgical case studies to consolidate learning, experienced supervisor training, and expansion of skills and critical engagement.
Training is currently taking place at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital where simulations can be carried out using state-of-the art facilities and technology.
Through the use of TURAS Learn, the NHS Scotland Academy team have worked in collaboration with NES to develop an online perioperative education package that supports the accelerated learning of those on the programme.
The core skills of this programme include:
- surgical scrub
- surgical instrument familiarisation
- human factors
- perioperative law and ethics
- key perioperative aspects of different surgical specialties
- Applied Learning days (ApLe)
These essential resources remain available to all learners after they have completed the programme.
Who are we?
The programme has a dedicated faculty of clinical educators including, operating department practitioners and perioperative staff nurses, ensuring all 3 perioperative specialties – scrub, anaesthetics and recovery – are covered.
How do I get involved?
The Foundations of Perioperative Practice is a national programme, which means it is open to learners from across all 14 Scottish Health Boards.
To get involved in the next cohort, you must have no more than 2 months experience working in the perioperative environment and register your interest with your Theatre Clinical Educator.
If any clinical teams require additional information, please contact nhsscotlandacademy@nhs.scot.
Supportive Resources
Further careers information designed to support potential and existing Perioperative Practitioners can be found on TURAS Learn
Access the Perioperative Workforce Guide on Perioperative Workforce Guide: TURAS Learn
For more information contact nhsscotlandacademy@nhs.scot
This programme is a great learning experience. It provides a safe space to acquire important skills that I can then implement into my practice.
This course is perfect for newly qualified nurses entering scrub. The realistic simulation training has really helped to push my skills and knowledge. A huge benefit of this programme was the unique environment created by the facilitators which allowed me to ask questions.
Before starting this programme, I had limited theatre experience. This has given me a greater insight into the perioperative environment and helped to boost my confidence. I've really enjoyed working with learners from different health boards. We learn from each other whilst being guided with the Association for Perioperative Practice (AFPP) Standards.
This course has given me the opportunity to learn theatre skills in a safe environment and has helped to build my knowledge through simulation and hands on practice
This programme has supported my practical and theoretical learning as a newly qualified practitioner. I have had an excellent opportunity to learn in a safe environment with help and support from the learning facilitators. I have enjoyed meeting other learners and I can't wait to apply what I have learned into practice.
This programme has helped build my confidence within the theatre environment and given me further knowledge surrounding the different disciplines working within the department. Participating in simulation training has given me an idea of scenarios that may come up on a daily basis and made me realise how much I had learned.
Without this programme, I wouldn't have the foundation of knowledge and skills that I do now. It has provided me with a safe space to learn and share experiences with others who are also new to working in the theatre environment. I believe this will help me to become a more competent and confident nurse.
Bring new in the world of scrub, this programme has helped me develop the skills and understanding needed to become more confident within the theatre environment. The team are amazing and help to build your knowledge whilst making it an enjoyable experience. It has also given me a greater insight into how other parts of the theatre team work and how I can contribute.
The training I have received on the programme has allowed me to broaden my knowledge in areas I was unfamiliar with. It has improved my practice and how I control my standards whilst scrubbed or circulating on the theatre floor. The educators have been outstanding with the guidance and knowledge they bring to the course and I am really grateful.
