AH1S09 - Foundations of Surgical Practice 01 Sep 2022 - 01 Oct 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: AH1S09
Module Title: Foundations of Surgical Practice
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Allied Health and Chiropractic
Faculty Sub Group: Operating Dept Practice
Module Leader: Craig Griffiths
Module Team: Deborah Ryan, Ashley Davies, Filipa Machado, Bethan Kent
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100273 - operating department practice
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 01 Oct 2027

Module Aims

This module aims to introduce the principles of surgery and surgical practice. Students will explore theory in order to begin, planning, implementing and evaluating surgical care.
Students will develop the knowledge and clinical skills required to practice safely as both a circulating and surgical practitioner within minor to intermediate surgical procedures within the wider surgical team.

Content Summary

The module will develop the student’s knowledge and clinical skills in order to work effectively within the interdisciplinary team in the care of the patient undergoing surgery. Students will begin to evaluate care given to patients in surgery utilising the evidence base.
Theoretical Topics to Include:
Halsted’s surgical principles and how they apply to key areas of perioperative practice including surgical instrumentation, infection control, handling of tissues and haemostasis.
The effective and safe use of perioperative equipment accounting for legislation and manufacturer’s guidance.
Clinical Waste Management within the perioperative environment.
The design of the operating theatre and its placement within the wider hospital community.
The design, decontamination and management of surgical instruments and equipment.

Development of Clinical Skills in Surgical Practice to Include:
Infection prevention and control within operating department practice including:
• Theatre attire and personal protective equipment
• Scrubbing, gowning and gloving
• Creation and maintenance of the sterile field
• The safe handling of surgical instruments including sharps within the perioperative environment.
• Participation of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
• Maintenance of Normothermia
• Basic wound management
Application of anatomy and physiology in basic surgical care including patient assessment tools (VTE prophylaxis, tissue viability) and patient positioning.

Introduction to common surgical specialties to include positioning, instrumentation and equipment for common procedures:
• General Surgery
• Minimal Access Surgery
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Gynaecology Surgery
• Urology Surgery
Communication within the perioperative environment including:
• Communication within the interdisciplinary team
• SBAR tool and appropriate patient handover
• Communication with the surgical patient including during awake surgical procedures

Legal and Professional Topics within Surgical Practice to Include:
Identifying risk in the perioperative environment including the rationale behind the World Health Organisation Surgical Safety Checklists.
Statutory national and local guidelines within surgical care.
Effective documentation and record keeping within surgical practice.
Handling human tissue and clinical specimens within practice.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Independent Study 72
Directed Study 80
Active/Simulation Based 24
Problem / challenge based learning 16
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the circulating and scrub practitioner in the care of the perioperative patient undergoing minor and intermediate surgical procedures
LO2 Demonstrate an understanding of law, ethics and patient communication in the design of perioperative pathways.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 A Case-study describing with justification the surgical care of a perioperative patient through their journey 0 2500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Case study 1

Reading List

The Association for Perioperative Practice. (2022) Standards and Guidance. Available at: https://www.afpp.org.uk/careers/Standards-Guidance (Accessed 01 April 2022)

The Association for Perioperative Practice. (2022) Standards and Recommendations for Safer Perioperative Practice. 5th edition. Harrogate: The Association for Perioperative Practice.

Conway, N. et al. (2019) Clinical Pocket Reference Operating Department Practice. Oxford: Clinical Pocket Reference.

Howlett, B., Shelton, T. and Rogo, E. (2021) Evidence based practice for health professionals: an interprofessional approach. 2nd edition. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Moss, B. (2020) Communication Skills in Nursing, Health and Social Care. 5th edition. London: SAGE.

Phillips N. and Hornacky, A. (2020) Berry & Kohn’s Operating room technique. 14th edition. St Louis: Elsevier.

Raftery, A., Delbridge, M., Wagstaff, M. and Bridge, K. (2017) Churchill's pocketbook of surgery. 5th edition. Edinburgh: Elsevier.

Rodger, D. et al. (2022) Fundamentals of Operating Department Practice. 2nd edition: Cambridge: Cambridge.

Rothrock, J. (2018) Alexander’s care of the patient in surgery. 16th edition. St Louis: Elsevier.