A precepted perioperative elective for baccalaureate nursing students

A major factor contributing to the recruitment crisis in perioperative nursing is the lack of perioperative experiences offered to nursing students. A clinical elective designed to provide interested baccalaureate nursing students with OR experience was implemented at one university. A faculty member collaborated with perioperative nurses from area hospitals to provide a 36-hour, precepted perioperative experience. The course allows students to learn about the perioperative nursing role and helps them develop nursing skills. Students acknowledged that this brief experience was adequate to meet their learning needs and help them decide whether they wanted to pursue further a career in perioperative nursing.