Bonus Module: Soft Tissue Kits, Orthopaedic Instruments & Power Tools

Surgical nursing is an excellent way to expand your skills (and trust us, we’ll get to that), but it’s also an opportunity to make yourself indispensable. If you can confidently identify, manage, and test a variety of surgical instruments, you’ll quickly become the go-to person everyone relies on – especially when someone’s frantically searching for that tool five minutes before surgery.

This bonus session sets the foundation, starting with the usual suspects: instruments from spay kits, lap kits, and other soft tissue tools. Once we’ve covered those, we’ll move into the more specialized territory of orthopaedic kits and power tools – because what’s a day in surgery without a drill in your hand?

Module 1: Caring for the Whole Surgical Kit

Instruments may not have emotions (we checked), but they do require proper care. After a long day in the theatre, they return to you like battle-worn warriors – blunt, bloodied, and desperate for attention.

This module covers everything you need to know about instrument care, from cleaning and maintenance to storage and troubleshooting. Since surgical instruments are a bit shy and can’t speak up, we’ll share some lighthearted tips on how to help your vets treat them with a touch more respect – unofficially, of course! If you master this, you deserve daily brownies at morning tea or, at the very least, the acknowledgment that you’re keeping the surgical team running smoothly.

Module 2: Finding the Sharp Edge

There’s something deeply satisfying about a pair of scissors that glide through tissue like silk, forceps that align perfectly, and ratchets that click into place with precision. These little details make a world of difference in surgery, and if you’re not testing instruments regularly, it’s time for a serious upgrade.

In this hands-on, interactive session, grab some instruments from work and join us in function testing. We’ll show you how to assess their performance, troubleshoot common issues, and keep them in top shape – because nothing ruins a surgery faster than dull scissors or a pair of misaligned forceps. And let’s be honest, we love to make the team smile.

Module 3: Scrub Nursing & Theatre Preparation

The surgical theatre carries an air of mystery – until you’re the one responsible for setting it up. Then, it becomes a high-stakes puzzle where everything needs to be in place before the surgeon arrives.

This module covers everything you need to know to confidently prepare for surgery. You’ll learn how to set up theatre like a pro, from assembling and packing surgical kits to managing spares, swabs, and container systems. Since every surgeon has their own quirks and preferences, we’ll also introduce a universal system for organizing theatre efficiently – using the ever-dreaded surprise after-hours emergency laparotomy as an example.

Module 4: Pathways to Theatre & The Surgical Assistant Role

Surgical workflow might seem like controlled chaos, but there’s actually a method to the madness. This module takes you through the logic behind each step, helping you understand why things happen the way they do.

Starting with theatre preparation, we’ll move through the roles of anaesthesia and scrub nurses, leading to scrubbing in as a surgical assistant. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping up in your career and getting hands-on in surgery, this module will give you the knowledge and confidence to make it happen.

Module 5: Troubleshooting & Real-World Stories

Surgery doesn’t always go according to plan; sometimes, it goes hilariously (or terrifyingly) off the rails. Knowing how to handle those moments can mean the difference between a smooth recovery and sheer panic.

In this module, we’ll share real-world troubleshooting strategies, like what to do when you can’t open that saline bag without looking like you’re in a wrestling match, how to recover gracefully when you (whoops) drop an instrument, and how to support your surgeon if an arterial bleed turns your nice, tidy surgical field into a scene from a horror movie. Expect plenty of “Oh no, that actually happened?” moments, along with practical tips to help you stay cool under pressure.