The Certificate Program for Surgical Services Educators focuses on developing and refining skills that are essential to the educator role. The program is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and ability to function in the educator role, regardless of their experience level. Participants who successfully complete all online post-tests will receive a certificate of mastery and contact hours. Partial credit cannot be awarded.
Module 1: Leadership and Organizational Behaviors, 1.8 contact hours
An understanding of leadership principles and organizational behavior is a vital component of the nurse educator’s role. This module focuses on the impact of leadership styles and organizational structure/ norms in the development of collegial relationships. The opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills are provided through clinical examples and activities.
About the Authors. Kathryn Schroeter, PhD, RN, CNOR is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at Marquette University and an adjunct Assistant Professor of Bioethics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, both in Milwaukee, WI. She serves as a Magnet® Recognition Appraiser for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and as an Education Coordinator at Froedtert Hospital, a Level-I trauma center, in Milwaukee.
Julie Mower, RN, MSN, CNS, CNOR is the Credentialing and Education Project Manager for CCI. Over the past 30 years, she has served in both perioperative staff and clinical and academic educator positions.
Module 2: Teaching/Learning Principles, 1.5 contact hours
This module provides concepts and tools to assist the nurse educator in first identifying teaching and learner styles, and then integrating them into an educational program that meets the needs of the adult learner.
About the Author. Angela Walsh, MA, RN, CNOR has been a perioperative nurse for 35 years. She has been a health educator since 1989 and a perioperative nurse educator since 2003. Ms. Walsh’s area of focus is adult learning theory and the use of humor in the classroom.
Module 3: Instructional Design, 1.5 contact hours
An activity that leaves both the learner and the educator energized, enthusiastic, and motivated is the result of careful planning. This module enables the nurse educator to apply the principles of instructional design to develop successful educational offerings, whether it is a day-long workshop or a ten-minute just-in-time in-service.
About the Author. Terri Goodman, PhD, RN, CNOR is a consultant specializing in developing continuing nursing education for professional organizations and healthcare facilities. Her postgraduate education focused on health studies and program development. Dr. Goodman’s many contributions include the development of the AORN educational video The OR: A Team Effort.
Module 4: Evaluations and Outcomes, 1.6 contact hours
This module provides an overview of the evaluation process, measurement tools, testing methods, and other concepts by which nurse educators can evaluate desired outcomes. This module gives educators easy-to-use tools to answer the following questions:
1. What did my students learn?
2. Was I effective as an educator?
3. Were the objectives met?
Examples of evaluation materials are provided as well as sample competency assessment tools which can be adapted to individual staff needs.
About the Author. Julia A. Thompson, PhD, RN, CNS, CIP, CNOR is the Administrative Director of Research & Sponsored Programs at the Harris County Hospital District in Houston, Texas. Dr. Thompson has been a perioperative nurse for over 22 years, including roles as an administrative director, manager, clinical provider, clinical nurse specialist, educator, researcher, and consultant.
Module 5: Staff Development, 1.8 contact hours
Patients, regulatory agencies, advocacy groups, licensing boards, and certifying agencies demand the assurance of safe and competent patient care. This module provides guidelines and tools to assess, develop, and implement methods for enhancing perioperative staff competence. Three areas are addressed:
1. Preparing and providing continued educational activities.
2. Orientation of new staff members.
3. Developing and assessing competencies.
About the Author. Tom Hendrickson, MSN, RN, CNOR is an educator, conference speaker, and author. Formerly the perioperative educator at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at the Rahway campus in New Jersey, Mr. Hendrickson has over 35 years of perioperative experience. Currently he is the Trauma Manager for the State of New Jersey.
Module 6: Facilitation and Collaboration, 1.5 contact hours
The need to be proficient in working with other members of the healthcare team has never been greater, as no one person can hope to possess all the skills necessary to be successful in today’s perioperative setting. Facilitation and collaboration are paramount to the nurse educator. This module supplies working definitions and insight towards utilizing these skills in a variety of settings.
About the Author. Julie Mower, MSN, RN, CNS, CNOR is the Credentialing and Education Project Manager for CCI. Over the past 30 years, she has served in both perioperative staff and clinical and academic educator positions.
Module 7: Creating a Culture of Evidence-Based Practice, 1.6 contact hours
Creating and promoting a culture of patient safety based on the best available evidence is everyone’s job. This module provides tools to access, understand, and apply the results of research to the perioperative setting. Basic concepts are explained through the use of clinical examples. In addition, a variety of methods are provided for incorporating Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) into the everyday work environment.
About the Author. Constance E. Melby, MS, RN, CNOR, received her Diploma in Nursing from the Moline Public Hospital School of Nursing and her BS and MS from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois. She has over twenty years of perioperative experience which supports her in her present role as the OR Clinical Educator at Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois.