Welcome to the Perioperative Nurses College

The Perioperative Nurses College of NZNO is the professional organisation of perioperative nurses in New Zealand.

We are affiliated to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and promote excellence in nursing practice in the pre-, intra- and postoperative care of patients.

On this page:

  1. Mission Statement
  2. Purpose
  3. Key Goals
  4. Values
  5. Strategic Plan
  6. About Perioperative Nursing
  7. History of the Perioperative Nurses College
  8. PNC Rules

Mission Statement

The Mission of Perioperative Nurses College (PNC) NZNO is to support and promote the safe and optimal care of all patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures.

This is achieved by promoting high standards of nursing practice through education and research.

PNC support and adhere to the NZNO standards of nursing practice, principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and the vision and direction provided by the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses.

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Purpose

The specific functions of the Perioperative Nurses College of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation are to:

  • Provide nursing leadership and strategic direction for Perioperative Nurses
  • Develop and maintain professional standards for Perioperative Nursing
  • Develop and co-ordinate education programmes for Perioperative Nurses
  • Promote the value of Perioperative Nursing and Perioperative Nurses
  • Represent the specialty of Perioperative Nursing both nationally and internationally
  • Provide a professional support network.

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Key Goals

  • Maintenance of Perioperative Nursing College Status
  • Establish a national education programme for Perioperative Nurses
  • Establish an accreditation process for Perioperative Nurses
  • Promote the Perioperative Nurses College to Perioperative nurses and increase the membership.

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Values

PNC member values relate to patient care, education and professional development. We value:

  • Perioperative nursing practice that encompasses pre, intra and post operative care
  • Current, accessible and cost effective services
  • Clear and accurate documentation
  • Evidence-based practice
  • Team practice
  • Optimising the patient journey
  • Open, honest, collaborative communication
  • Creative leaders.

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Strategic Plan

Leadership

  • To build perioperative nursing knowledge to promote nursing knowledge
  • To establish a strong public image of perioperative nursing and the college.

Membership

  • To build membership and support increasing capacity and capability within the college’s membership
  • Increase membership participation and awareness of local, national and international Perioperative nursing issues
  • Support professional development of perioperative nurses.

Organisational

  • To protect the interests of NZNO and the PNC by upholding organisational values
  • To be financially effective in all processes
  • To have a strong financial base.

Social

  • To raise the public profile of perioperative nursing
  • To support and promote access to safe and optimal care during operative and other invasive procedures by all New Zealanders.

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About Perioperative Nursing

Perioperative nurses provide perioperative care to patients and their families/whanau through the continuum of care.

Perioperative nursing care is provided in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: outpatient departments, day surgery units, intervention and investigative units, radiological departments, surgical inpatient units, operating rooms and post anaesthetic care units.

Perioperative nurses demonstrate the application of speciality and sub-speciality nursing knowledge in the provision of assessment, therapeutic interventions, treatment modalities, working within an Inter-professional team and appropriate referrals.

"The concept of the perioperative continuum is vital to ensure continuity of care for patients undergoing surgery - this is the patient’s right. It encompasses the three phases of the patient’s surgical experience, in which all nurses in the surgical continuum are involved.

The Preoperative phase commences with the patient’s decision to have surgery and ends at induction (of anaesthetic); the Intraoperative phase is the time from the patient’s induction of anaesthetic until extubation and/or transfer from the operating table, and the Post-operative phase commences with the patient’s transfer from the operating room to the Post anaesthetic care unit and continues until discharge from hospital and/or health team care.” (Jones 1985)

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History of the Perioperative Nurses College

Since 1974 our origins and evolvement are scattered throughout our journal. Karen hall has compiled a historical journey of the last 39 years, so please sit back and enjoy.

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PNC Rules 2022

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© Copyright 2014 New Zealand Nurses Organisation. Authorised by NZNO, 57 Willis Street, Wellington