George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
Registered Practical Nursing - Perioperative
(Postgraduate) (S425)
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
| Semester | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Courses
Semester 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| NURS4100 | Operating Room Principles and Practices I |
| NURS4101 | Operating Room Principles and Practices II |
| NURS4102 | Operating Room Principles and Practices III |
| NURS4103 | Operating Room Principles and Practices IV |
| NURS4104 | Registered Practical Nurse Operating Room Practicum |
Course Outline URL
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and attitudes:
- Complete all work as a member of a surgical team in a legal, ethical, competent, and professional manner to ensure best practice in client care.
- Contribute to the provision of nursing care to persons undergoing surgery by following the standards of practice of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC).
- Maintain collaborative interprofessional relationships that support operating room services.
- Identify and respond appropriately within the scope of practice to changes in human behaviour due to the effects of illness, stress and fatigue of an individual and/or significant others.
- Utilize aseptic techniques with all tasks related to surgical procedures, patient care, and other departmental functions to help prevent post-operative complications.
- Use and maintain instruments, special equipment, and supplies used for basic surgical procedures in order to promote a safe working environment for self and others.
- Utilize personal strategies to maintain, improve and promote professional competence and development within the role of operating room practical nurse.
- Apply theory, principles and evidence-informed practice to operating room nursing to ensure best practice in perioperative patient care, procedure delivery and patient safety.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
$2,446.00 *
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for one semester of the program starting in Fall 2024. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2025 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
Financial Assistance
The program is not eligible for OSAP funding.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid web pages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Admission Requirements
- RPN Certificate Of Competence, College of Nurses of Ontario, without practice restrictions
- BCLS (Heart and Stroke Foundation) HCP level
- current resumé
- recommended one year of medical surgical experience (not required)
This program is open to both non-sponsored (independent) and sponsored student applicants.
Independent Student:
- independent application and tuition fees
- not hired by a clinical agency
- a clinical placement is arranged at an affiliate hospital by the program co-ordinator
- must complete the pre-placement health form requirements and VSS upon program acceptance
Sponsored Student:
- hired by the clinical agency (prior to) applying to the program
- program fees may or may not be covered based on hiring contract details from the clinical agency
- clinical placement is completed at the hospital student is employed
If you would like more information about sponsorship to this program and how to meet the admission requirements, please contact nursing@georgebrown.ca.
This program is open to domestic applicants only.
How to Apply
Domestic students apply through Ontario Colleges.
Contact Us
Contact Chelsea Ovosonka, program co-ordinator and professor, at the George Brown Polytechnic Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing at 416-415-5000, ext. 2349 or email Chelsea.Ovsonka@georgebrown.ca for more information.
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
Courses
Semester 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| NURS4100 | Operating Room Principles and Practices I |
| NURS4101 | Operating Room Principles and Practices II |
| NURS4102 | Operating Room Principles and Practices III |
| NURS4103 | Operating Room Principles and Practices IV |
| NURS4104 | Registered Practical Nurse Operating Room Practicum |
Course Outline URL
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
$2,446.00 *
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for one semester of the program starting in Fall 2024. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2025 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
Financial Assistance
The program is not eligible for OSAP funding.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid web pages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Admission Requirements
- RPN Certificate Of Competence, College of Nurses of Ontario, without practice restrictions
- BCLS (Heart and Stroke Foundation) HCP level
- current resumé
- recommended one year of medical surgical experience (not required)
This program is open to both non-sponsored (independent) and sponsored student applicants.
Independent Student:
- independent application and tuition fees
- not hired by a clinical agency
- a clinical placement is arranged at an affiliate hospital by the program co-ordinator
- must complete the pre-placement health form requirements and VSS upon program acceptance
Sponsored Student:
- hired by the clinical agency (prior to) applying to the program
- program fees may or may not be covered based on hiring contract details from the clinical agency
- clinical placement is completed at the hospital student is employed
If you would like more information about sponsorship to this program and how to meet the admission requirements, please contact nursing@georgebrown.ca.
This program is open to domestic applicants only.
How to Apply
Domestic students apply through Ontario Colleges.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and attitudes:
- Complete all work as a member of a surgical team in a legal, ethical, competent, and professional manner to ensure best practice in client care.
- Contribute to the provision of nursing care to persons undergoing surgery by following the standards of practice of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC).
- Maintain collaborative interprofessional relationships that support operating room services.
- Identify and respond appropriately within the scope of practice to changes in human behaviour due to the effects of illness, stress and fatigue of an individual and/or significant others.
- Utilize aseptic techniques with all tasks related to surgical procedures, patient care, and other departmental functions to help prevent post-operative complications.
- Use and maintain instruments, special equipment, and supplies used for basic surgical procedures in order to promote a safe working environment for self and others.
- Utilize personal strategies to maintain, improve and promote professional competence and development within the role of operating room practical nurse.
- Apply theory, principles and evidence-informed practice to operating room nursing to ensure best practice in perioperative patient care, procedure delivery and patient safety.
Contact Us
Contact Chelsea Ovosonka, program co-ordinator and professor, at the George Brown Polytechnic Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing at 416-415-5000, ext. 2349 or email Chelsea.Ovsonka@georgebrown.ca for more information.
Visit Waterfront Campus
Book campus tourVisit Waterfront Campus
Our Virtual Tour showcases the following areas:
- Campus Facilities
- Student Services
- Applied Learning Environments
- Labs & Classrooms
Registered Practical Nursing - Perioperative
(Postgraduate) (S425)
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: $2,414.00 *
Program Availability
| Semester | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | Closed | Not Available |
| Winter 2025 | Closed | Not Available |
| Spring 2025 | Not Available | Not Available |
- Work-Integrated Learning:
Clinical Placement
- PGWP Eligible: No
Program Description
Program Overview
The Registered Practical Nursing – Perioperative (Postgraduate) 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 Nursing – Perioperative (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) Standards of Practice.
Students will learn operating room principles and practice considerations for all surgical specialties. This includes the study of relevant anatomy, surgical modalities, surgical instrumentation and the nursing process of caring for perioperative patients.
Each 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 multimodal 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
During the first five weeks of this program, students will learn:
- current ORNAC standards, principles and applications
- practice considerations for all surgical specialties
- surgical anatomy, modalities and instrumentation
- role of the scrub nurse
- clinical lab skills delivered in George Brown College's Operating Room Simulation Centre
Phase II: Clinical Practicum
Students will consolidate operating room theory and principles and will complete an eight-week (320-hour) clinical placement at a designated hospital facility.
This clinical practicum includes:
- development of the scrub nurse role
- exposure to various surgical specialties (i.e. General Surgery, Urology, Gynecology, Plastic Surgery, ENT and Orthopedic Surgery)
- safe and professional practice
- introduction to the circulating role (hospital site dependent)
While in the clinical setting, students will participate in online discussions through live video conferences and complete clinical assignments as per the course syllabus.
Clinical experiences are co-ordinated by the program co-ordinator at hospitals in and outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), or at the hospital where the student currently works. Sponsored (hired) students will complete their clinical placements at the hospital where they are employed.
PLEASE NOTE: Public Health continues to recommend that people working with vulnerable communities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Clinical agency partners continue to require students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be approved to complete clinical placements within their facilities. Agencies have the right to decline the placement of students who are not fully vaccinated, and students who are not vaccinated are at risk of not being able to complete their clinical placement course requirements.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Courses
Semester 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| NURS4100 | Operating Room Principles and Practices I |
| NURS4101 | Operating Room Principles and Practices II |
| NURS4102 | Operating Room Principles and Practices III |
| NURS4103 | Operating Room Principles and Practices IV |
| NURS4104 | Registered Practical Nurse Operating Room Practicum |
Course Outline URL
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and attitudes:
- Complete all work as a member of a surgical team in a legal, ethical, competent, and professional manner to ensure best practice in client care.
- Contribute to the provision of nursing care to persons undergoing surgery by following the standards of practice of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC).
- Maintain collaborative interprofessional relationships that support operating room services.
- Identify and respond appropriately within the scope of practice to changes in human behaviour due to the effects of illness, stress and fatigue of an individual and/or significant others.
- Utilize aseptic techniques with all tasks related to surgical procedures, patient care, and other departmental functions to help prevent post-operative complications.
- Use and maintain instruments, special equipment, and supplies used for basic surgical procedures in order to promote a safe working environment for self and others.
- Utilize personal strategies to maintain, improve and promote professional competence and development within the role of operating room practical nurse.
- Apply theory, principles and evidence-informed practice to operating room nursing to ensure best practice in perioperative patient care, procedure delivery and patient safety.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
$2,414.00 *
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for one semester of the program starting in Fall 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
Financial Assistance
The program is not eligible for OSAP funding.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Admission Requirements
- RPN Certificate Of Competence, College of Nurses of Ontario, without practice restrictions
- BCLS (Heart and Stroke Foundation) HCP level
- current resumé
- recommended one year of medical surgical experience (not required)
This program is open to both non-sponsored (independent) and sponsored student applicants.
Independent Student:
- independent application and tuition fees
- not hired by a clinical agency
- a clinical placement is arranged at an affiliate hospital by the program co-ordinator
- must complete the pre-placement health form requirements and VSS upon program acceptance
Sponsored Student:
- hired by the clinical agency (prior to) applying to the program
- program fees may or may not be covered based on hiring contract details from the clinical agency
- clinical placement is completed at the hospital student is employed
If you would like more information about sponsorship to this program and how to meet the admission requirements, please contact nursing@georgebrown.ca.
This program is open to domestic applicants only.
How to Apply
Domestic students apply through Ontario Colleges.
Contact Us
Contact Chelsea Ovosonka, program co-ordinator and professor, at the George Brown College Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing at 416-415-5000, ext. 2349 or email Chelsea.Ovsonka@georgebrown.ca for more information.
For general information about George Brown College, call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Program Description
Program Overview
The Registered Practical Nursing – Perioperative (Postgraduate) 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 Nursing – Perioperative (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) Standards of Practice.
Students will learn operating room principles and practice considerations for all surgical specialties. This includes the study of relevant anatomy, surgical modalities, surgical instrumentation and the nursing process of caring for perioperative patients.
Each 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 multimodal 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
During the first five weeks of this program, students will learn:
- current ORNAC standards, principles and applications
- practice considerations for all surgical specialties
- surgical anatomy, modalities and instrumentation
- role of the scrub nurse
- clinical lab skills delivered in George Brown College's Operating Room Simulation Centre
Phase II: Clinical Practicum
Students will consolidate operating room theory and principles and will complete an eight-week (320-hour) clinical placement at a designated hospital facility.
This clinical practicum includes:
- development of the scrub nurse role
- exposure to various surgical specialties (i.e. General Surgery, Urology, Gynecology, Plastic Surgery, ENT and Orthopedic Surgery)
- safe and professional practice
- introduction to the circulating role (hospital site dependent)
While in the clinical setting, students will participate in online discussions through live video conferences and complete clinical assignments as per the course syllabus.
Clinical experiences are co-ordinated by the program co-ordinator at hospitals in and outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), or at the hospital where the student currently works. Sponsored (hired) students will complete their clinical placements at the hospital where they are employed.
PLEASE NOTE: Public Health continues to recommend that people working with vulnerable communities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Clinical agency partners continue to require students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be approved to complete clinical placements within their facilities. Agencies have the right to decline the placement of students who are not fully vaccinated, and students who are not vaccinated are at risk of not being able to complete their clinical placement course requirements.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Courses
Semester 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| NURS4100 | Operating Room Principles and Practices I |
| NURS4101 | Operating Room Principles and Practices II |
| NURS4102 | Operating Room Principles and Practices III |
| NURS4103 | Operating Room Principles and Practices IV |
| NURS4104 | Registered Practical Nurse Operating Room Practicum |
Course Outline URL
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
$2,414.00 *
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for one semester of the program starting in Fall 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
Financial Assistance
The program is not eligible for OSAP funding.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Admission Requirements
- RPN Certificate Of Competence, College of Nurses of Ontario, without practice restrictions
- BCLS (Heart and Stroke Foundation) HCP level
- current resumé
- recommended one year of medical surgical experience (not required)
This program is open to both non-sponsored (independent) and sponsored student applicants.
Independent Student:
- independent application and tuition fees
- not hired by a clinical agency
- a clinical placement is arranged at an affiliate hospital by the program co-ordinator
- must complete the pre-placement health form requirements and VSS upon program acceptance
Sponsored Student:
- hired by the clinical agency (prior to) applying to the program
- program fees may or may not be covered based on hiring contract details from the clinical agency
- clinical placement is completed at the hospital student is employed
If you would like more information about sponsorship to this program and how to meet the admission requirements, please contact nursing@georgebrown.ca.
This program is open to domestic applicants only.
How to Apply
Domestic students apply through Ontario Colleges.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and attitudes:
- Complete all work as a member of a surgical team in a legal, ethical, competent, and professional manner to ensure best practice in client care.
- Contribute to the provision of nursing care to persons undergoing surgery by following the standards of practice of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC).
- Maintain collaborative interprofessional relationships that support operating room services.
- Identify and respond appropriately within the scope of practice to changes in human behaviour due to the effects of illness, stress and fatigue of an individual and/or significant others.
- Utilize aseptic techniques with all tasks related to surgical procedures, patient care, and other departmental functions to help prevent post-operative complications.
- Use and maintain instruments, special equipment, and supplies used for basic surgical procedures in order to promote a safe working environment for self and others.
- Utilize personal strategies to maintain, improve and promote professional competence and development within the role of operating room practical nurse.
- Apply theory, principles and evidence-informed practice to operating room nursing to ensure best practice in perioperative patient care, procedure delivery and patient safety.
Contact Us
Contact Chelsea Ovosonka, program co-ordinator and professor, at the George Brown College Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing at 416-415-5000, ext. 2349 or email Chelsea.Ovsonka@georgebrown.ca for more information.
For general information about George Brown College, call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Visit Waterfront Campus
Book campus tourVisit Waterfront Campus
Our Virtual Tour showcases the following areas:
- Campus Facilities
- Student Services
- Applied Learning Environments
- Labs & Classrooms