Program Details

  • Program Code: S425
  • Credential:
    Ontario College Graduate Certificate
  • Duration:
    1 semester (14 weeks)
  • Method of Study:
    Full-time
  • Starting Months: September
  • Domestic Tuition:
    $2,446.00 *
  • Spring 2026 Delivery:
    Not Available

Program Availability

SemesterDomesticInternational
Fall 2025
Closed
Not Available
Winter 2026
Not Available
Not Available
Spring 2026
Not Available
Not Available
  • Work-Integrated Learning:

    Clinical Placement

  • PGWP Eligible: No
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Program Description

Program Overview

The Registered Practical Nurse – Operating Room Perioperative Nursing Program prepares RPNs with the foundational theoretical and technical skills needed to work within their scope of practice in a perioperative setting. This program includes a theory and clinical practicum component.

Full Description

The Registered Practical Nurse – Operating Room Perioperative Nursing (Postgraduate S425) program is designed to teach RPNs the skills required to work as part of a perioperative team in a perioperative setting at a beginner level. The program utilizes current perioperative nursing research and strictly adheres to the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC) Guidelines.

Operating room principles and practice considerations for all surgical specialities are reviewed. The student will complete a clinical practicum in an operating room with an emphasis on the scrub nurse role in various surgical specialties.

Course Delivery

This course is delivered through multi-modal learning and includes:

  • synchronous and asynchronous in-class and online theory
  • lab skills and simulations
  • a clinical practicum experience

The program is organized in two phases.

Phase I: Nursing Theory and Lab Skills
5 weeks: Hybrid: Monday – Friday

A comprehensive study of the current ORNAC Guidelines, principles and practices are reviewed and applied to the scrub nurse role and responsibilities in the lab setting.  Surgical interventions, including the review of relevant anatomy, surgical modalities and technologies, instrumentation, and the nursing process of caring for the perioperative patient are explored.

Lab and simulation days are offered at the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences at the Waterfront Campus.

Phase II: Clinical Practicum
8 weeks: Monday-Friday

Throughout the clinical practicum, the student will consolidate operating room theory and principles to practice. This includes the development of the scrub and circulating nurse role in various surgical specialties.

Important Note:

Clinical placements are coordinated by the program coordinator at hospitals in and outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This specialty program has a restricted number of seats open to applicants. Independent applicants are accepted pending a confirmed clinical placement.

Applicants will be contacted by the program coordinator to submit a resume and schedule a phone interview. This is required as part of the application process. 

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Upon graduating from the Registered Practical Nursing – Perioperative postgraduate program, you will have the necessary skills required to work as part of a perioperative team in a perioperative setting at a beginner level.

This program offers RPNs an opportunity to specialize in perioperative nursing. In recent years, more acute care centres are adding RPN positions to their operating rooms’ staffing skills mix.

Alumni Impact

We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.

From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.

Latest Alumni Stories

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