The Effect of an Undergraduate Perioperative Nursing Course on Safety Knowledge

Despite national initiatives and ongoing efforts, keeping patients safe remains a challenge. Education is the key to preparing health care professionals to be able to prevent errors and provide safe patient care. In the past three decades, perioperative courses have been removed from nearly every nursing program in the United States, thereby eliminating the chance for students to learn nursing skills and concepts related to safety in the perioperative environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a perioperative nursing course on junior baccalaureate nursing students' safety knowledge by testing students before and after they completed the course. Safety knowledge increased among the 44 student participants. Nursing program faculty members are encouraged to explore teaching opportunities beyond the traditional nursing educational model and include perioperative courses as part of the baccalaureate nursing curriculum to enhance patient safety.