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Learning the OR: Inside Ochsner’s Periop 101 Program
Periop 101 is a special training program at Ochsner Health for nurses who are new to the operating room. Angel F., an OR nurse manager, says the class is made for anyone with little or no surgery experience. Some nurses have never stepped foot in an OR. New grad nurses, like Jordan M., may have worked as a surgical tech but have never seen the nursing side.
The program includes weekly classes, hands-on practice practice and a resource guide that helps nurses connect classroom lessons to real OR practice. Everything builds step by step, from learning what surgery is to understanding instruments, equipment and the nurse's role.
How The Program Works
Periop 101 classroom sessions last eight weeks, followed by a six-month orientation period working hands-on in the OR. Angel explains, "General surgery is your foundation. After that, we go to orthopedics or urology, then vascular and neuro and we have open hearts for last." Participants can opt to take a final exam from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) two years after completing the program to receive certification.
Nurses also take call with a partner or “buddy” so they can learn how to handle emergencies. Angel says the goal is to help them feel confident and safe when working on their own.
Why Periop 101 Matters
Angel believes Periop 101 is powerful because it teaches nurses not just what to do, but why they do it. She says understanding the “why” makes nurses safer, stronger and more confident in the OR.
“Periop 101 gives you the why behind everything,” Angel says. “If you didn’t have Periop 101, you might know what suture or position to use, but you wouldn’t know why we do it that way.”
She explains that knowing the reason behind each step can make a big difference in patient care. When a patient is asleep during surgery, they can’t speak up if something hurts or feels wrong. Nurses must understand how to position patients, protect their skin, prevent injuries and keep everything sterile.
Learning Through Support and Teamwork
For current participant Jordan M., the class has helped her feel prepared for surgery nursing.
“It teaches you a little bit of everything about being a nurse in an operating room,” Jordan says. She also found the lessons on patient positioning, instrument counts and EPIC charting especially helpful.
Jordan says one of the best parts of the program is the support they get. “Our instructor is our number one support person during the class,” she says. “If we ever have questions, she makes sure we get answers.”
Learning with classmates also helped her feel more confident. “Talking about everything together really helped. Our instructor made each class interactive and not just reading from a PowerPoint,” Jordan says.
A Good First Step Into the OR
Jordan encourages other nurses to try the program. “I would recommend it to all nurses that have never been in the OR. It’s scary coming into surgery as a new nurse because you’re learning everything at once,” she says. “But the program really prepares you.”
Angel says nurses who are unsure should try a shadow shift. “Surgery is like an unknown world,” she says. “You won’t know if you like it until you come and see it for yourself.”
Learn More About Periop 101
Ochsner’s Periop 101 program gives new OR nurses the skills, support and confidence they need to grow. To learn more about Periop 101 and how to get started, apply to open OR nursing positions today.
