SURGERY/PERI-OPERATIVE

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This session provides participants with an overview of surgery and how it fits into the overall health care profession. The session also provides an opportunity to review various surgical specialties.

Category

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

 

  • Identify the difference between sterile and nonsterile.
  • Demonstrate gloving technique and removal of gloves without contamination.
  • Understand techniques for donning surgical attire.
  • Discuss surgical specialties.
  • Observe a surgical suite and peri-operative areas during a tour.

Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

 

  • Identify the difference between sterile and nonsterile.
  • Demonstrate gloving technique and removal of gloves without contamination.
  • Understand techniques for donning surgical attire.
  • Discuss surgical specialties.
  • Observe a surgical suite and peri-operative areas during a tour.

Supplies

  • Laptop computer or equipment to view videos
  • Flip chart or marker board for brainstorming in Activity 2
  • Latex-free nonsterile gloves (one pair per Explorer)
  • Chocolate sauce
  • Pair of sterile gloves (for demonstration)
  • Set of surgical garb, to include shoe covers, mask, gown (sterile, if possible), hat, and gloves

PREPARATION

 

  • Arrange for a surgeon or surgical nurse to speak to the group.
  • Arrange for a tour of a surgical suite and/or peri-operative areas.

 

 

VIDEOS

 

Any time you use an outside source, be sure you follow the content owner’s or website’s permission requirements and guidelines.

Advisors should preview videos before showing them to make sure they are appropriate for the post.

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Any time you use an outside source, be sure you follow the content owner’s or website’s permission requirements and guidelines.

The following are suggested resources that Advisors may find helpful in planning this session:

Advisor Note

Text in italics should be read aloud to participants. As you engage your post in activities each week, please include comments, discussions, and feedback to the group relating to Character, Leadership, and Ethics. These are important attributes that make a difference in the success of youth in the workplace and in life.

Activities

Introduction

 

Tell participants: Surgery is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of injury, deformity, and disease by the use of instruments.

Activity 1

Sterile vs. Nonsterile

  • Explain sterile versus nonsterile.

 

Sterile: Free from bacteria or other living microorganisms

Nonsterile: Not free from bacteria or other living microorganisms

  • Present different situations and have participants determine whether they are sterile or nonsterile. Discuss why this is important.
  • Watch the video “Self Gowning and Gloving” from carreed42 and address any participant questions.
  • Watch the video “Scrubs, Foot Covers, Cap, and Mask” from PennVet Instructional Technology and address any participant questions.
  • Discuss the application of sterile and nonsterile gloves.
  • Discuss the application of surgical garb.
  • Practice gloving and gowning techniques if gowns are available for participants’ use.
  • Have participants pair up. One partner applies gloves, and the other pours chocolate syrup over the gloves to simulate bacteria. Participants then try remove the gloves without “contaminating” themselves using proper techniques. Each participant should have a chance to remove gloves.

Activity 2

Surgical Specialties

  • Break up into groups of three or four and have each team make a list of as many different surgery specialties as possible.
  • Then rotate around the teams to have each one announce a different specialty without repeating. If a team doesn’t have a new one to contribute, skip to the next group. Continue until the teams have exhausted their lists, then add a few that the participants didn’t include.
  • Review the list and discuss briefly. Color-code it or discuss which areas might be done by the same type of surgeon. For example, some orthopedic surgeons may work on multiple body parts and ENTs typically cover related areas.

Activity 3

Surgical Roles

  • If possible, view a surgery room or find a picture or video to represent all the people it takes to make surgery happen.
  • Explain the different types of individuals who would be present during a surgical procedure and the role of each. These would include the surgeon, nurses, surgeon assistance, anesthesiologist, people to monitor vitals, etc.
  • Set up a mock surgery table and have each participant take a spot around the table. Assign roles to each person and talk about what each would do during the surgery.

Activity 4

Tour

  • Tour a surgical suite and/or peri-operative area.

Advisor Note

Some sample questions are below. They are designed to help the participants apply what they have learned to their own interests. You are welcome to use these questions or develop your own questions that relate to your post or specific focus area.

Reflection

Focusing Questions

  • Do you know anyone in your family or close to you who has had surgery? Can you tell us about it?
  • What surgical specialty are you most interested in? Why?
  • What did you observe in the surgical areas? What impact did it make on you?
  • How difficult was it to remove the gloves without spreading bacteria to other areas?
  • What did you learn during today’s discussion?

Analysis Questions

  • What types of ethical situations do you think could arise related to performing surgery?

Generalization Questions

  • What can you do now, during your time as a student, to prepare yourself for this or a similar career in the medical field?
  • Why is this topic important?
SURGERY/PERI-OPERATIVE ACTIVITY GUIDE