Periop 101 Support and FAQs

Periop 101: OR can be purchased in addition to the two specialized cesarean section modules (Cesarean Section Care & Considerations and Obstetric Emergencies). If the entire Cesarean section course is purchased, the learner might be missing out on specific content.

Within the modules of Periop 101: OR there will be an OB icon with OB considerations in addition to the main content.

AORN’s Learning Center (ALC) and Periop 101: A Core Curriculum^™ Didactic Course

ADMINISTRATORS

• 2 free Administrator seats
• 3-year access to the required Administrator Implementation Course, learner course modules, and supporting resources
• Complimentary 3-year AORN membership to provide access to learner engagement tools, clinical resources, and professional development opportunities for administrators.
• 3-year Facility Agreement to assign course seats to learners and manage the program
• Access to bi-monthly Administrator Webinars for best practice tips and tricks
• Access to quarterly Administrator Newsletters for program updates, learner engagement tips, and answers to common questions
• Learner seats for Periop Mastery 2.0 program to use as part of the training plan for novice RNs after 2 years of experience or for immediate use as continuing education for experienced RNs on your team.
• Learner seats for Knowledge Assessment as part of the training plan for novice RNs after 2 years of experience or for immediate use as continuing education for experienced RNs on your team.

PRECEPTORS

• Free preceptor seats based on first-time or renewal purchase:
  • 1 seat for 1-5 learner seats
  • 2 seats for 6-10 learner seats
  • 4 seats for 11 or more learner seats
• Preceptors have 6-months from the date the modules were first accessed to complete the Preparing the Preceptor course and evaluation.
• Preceptors do not have access to the learner modules. Course Administrators are expected to provide the Preceptor Guidelines and module table of contents to the Preceptors.

LEARNERS

• 6-month access to complete the Periop 101 online course begins at the time the learner first accesses the course.
• Additional 1.5-year access (after the first 6 months) to the completed online course content to serve as a clinical reference in the learner's early career.
• Complimentary 2-year standard AORN membership begins with learner access of the first module. If the learner is already an AORN member, the 2 years will be added to the end of their current membership. Membership includes access to the AORN Mentor Program, Prep for CNOR online course, and other membership benefits.
• One-time, discounted $50 AORN membership renewal rate for Periop 101 learners.

Printable Handouts

• Within the Administrator Resources Module and learner modules.

Certificate of Achievement 

Includes name, completion date, course title, and contact hours for administrator and learner courses.

Certificate of Completion

Includes name, completion date, course title, and contact hours for Preparing the Preceptor.

>>Learn more about the Periop 101 program.

• Fees are based on how many learner seats are purchased at one time.
• Seat prices will never be raised or lowered during the three-year agreement term.
• Purchased seats can be assigned at any time within the three-year agreement term.
• More seats can be purchased within the agreement term.
• Fees are determined and locked in by the number of seats purchased together for the three-year initial or renewal agreement transaction.
• Additional seats can be purchased by contacting Experience Services at [email protected], submitting the order form with payment, or through the Facility Agreements Page located on the My AORN section of the AORN website.
• Seats that are unassigned or unstarted when the three-year term expires are not extended or refunded.

Additional fees may include:

• Administrator seats: Fee for each additional seat beyond the 2 free seats included in the three-year initial or renewal agreement transaction.
• Preceptor seats: Fee for each additional seat beyond the free seats included in the three-year initial or renewal agreement transaction.
• Learner seats: Costs are based on the agreement start date and the number of seats purchased together for the three-year initial or renewal agreement transaction.
• Final Exam fees: If the Periop 101 learner should fail the Final Exam three times, the Administrator can contact AORN at 800-755-2676 to request a 4th attempt be granted. All requests will be reviewed on an individual basis.

View the Pricing Catalog for the most updated information regarding the cost of additional seats.

• An email will be sent to the designated Administrator(s). The email contains information for Administrator registration and accessing the required Administrator Implementation Course.
• Purchase orders are not considered payment. AORN must receive a check, credit card payment, or electronic transfer before Periop 101 is activated.
• An AORN Account Executive or Account Manager can generate an invoice for facilities.

Administrators can check their seat counts on their Facility Agreement Page located on the My AORN section of the AORN website.

Additional seats can be purchased through the Facility Agreements  page, or email [email protected].

Contact AORN Experience Services at [email protected] with any questions.

Administrators can select learner seat types when sending email invites through the Facility Agreement Page. For assistance with changing a seat type, contact Experience Services at [email protected]. Changes to seat types may only be applied to learners who have not started the course.  

To enroll your learners, visit the Facility Agreements Page.

• Login using your AORN credentials
• Select My AORN
• Select Facility Agreements  
• Select Invites and Roster
• Select Invite
• Email Type: Select the Learner radio button
• Select the Learning Plan if applicable
• Enter the first name, last name, and email address
• Select Send

Administrators can assign preceptor and learner seats using the Facility Agreements Page. Once the seats are assigned, preceptors and learners will receive an email with instructions on how to complete their registration and access their course material.

When a learner registers with less than 6 months left in the existing facility agreement, the learner will have the full 2-year access to the course content. 

The program administrator will need to contact AORN Experience Services at [email protected] about extending administrator access when there is an active learner beyond the agreement expiration date. 

Reading and video resources for the Periop 101 courses are found within the Administrator Resources modules and within the course menu.

Each resource details the applicable AORN Guideline(s), chapters, and page assignments in Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery, video titles, and AORN tool kits and position statement website resources.

The online video library subscription (recommended) can be purchased by emailing [email protected].

Video titles can be found online in the AORN CineMed Video Library.

The Periop 101 Administrator Implementation Course contains two resources that are helpful when creating an individualized lesson plan/curriculum. The Reading and Video Resources and Sample Schedule documents contain supplemental resources (e.g., Alexander’s readings, AORN CineMed Video recommendations) and ideas (e.g., examples of guest speakers, “field trips,” skills labs) that can be used to create a lesson plan/curriculum. The Administrator Skills Lab Guide also provides tools and templates for creating your own skills lab (which can be incorporated into your lesson plan).  

AORN does not arrange a clinical preceptorship or practicum for Periop 101 learners. The Periop 101 program includes training for preceptors to prepare them for their role in onboarding novice RNs, as well as sample curriculum and hands-on skills lab guide to assist administrators and preceptors in providing a clinical experience for Periop 101 learners.

Periop 101 offers an Administrator Skills Lab Guide which is in the Administrator Resource section of the Administrator Implementation Course. This document provides administrators with guidance on how to facilitate a skills lab. Skills labs can be held virtually anywhere, in a skills lab, in an empty OR, or in a classroom setting. This document also contains skills lab checklists to keep track of skills being covered.

Preceptors have access to the Preparing the Preceptor course for 6 months. They do not have access to the Periop 101 Course.

It is the responsibility of the Administrator to provide the preceptor with the preceptor resources from the Administrator Implementation Course.

Periop 101 does not include Scrub Role training. Facilities have found it beneficial to bundle Periop 101 seats with AORN's Preparing for the Scrub Role course for a seamless transition for their new nurses. 

Yes. As part of the Periop 101 Agreement, at least one Administrator is required to oversee the Periop 101 program. Learners cannot participate in the program without an Administrator.

The Periop 101 Administrator typically is a nurse educator, responsible for providing a solid foundation for registered nurses new to the OR to enable them to provide safe patient care.

As the Periop 101 Administrator, the nurse educator plans, coordinates, and implements the didactic and clinical elements of the program. Elements of the comprehensive, blended educational course include the online modules, skills labs, guest speakers, and clinical experiences.

The Administrator is responsible for creating an engaging learning environment for the Periop 101 learner by choosing preceptors who are clinically knowledgeable and capable of teaching in the moment. Administrators may also take advantage of their free AORN membership to access learner engagement tools and clinical resources to support their learners.

Supporting documents for the administrator, preceptor, and learner can be found within the Administrator Resource Module and within the individual module's menu.

There are two requirements to be a Periop 101 Administrator:

1. At least two years of clinical experience as a perioperative RN. CNOR certification is preferred but not required.
2. Completion of the Administrator Implementation Course.

As a new administrator to Periop 101, it is important your learners know you are learning too, right along with them. Give yourself some grace, ask for feedback, and make improvements for the next set of learners.

Make sure to read over the Implementation Course and use the materials in the Administrator Resources.

Set up an organized learning plan (there is an example in the Administrator Resources module) with a list of modules, activities, and videos (if purchased) for your learner to complete. Incorporating suggested due dates might also be helpful to keep the learner on track.

Take time to complete the Periop 101 course. Become familiar with what your learners are studying.

Set up hands-on skills lab for your learners. Utilize the Skills Lab Checklists located in the Administrator Resources module.

Looking for the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly? All specialty assemblies are now located on Nursing Network. You may also join the Periop 101 Admin Group in the Periop Corner to get connected with other perioperative educators.

Take advantage of your free membership and access learner engagement tools and clinical resources to support your team's learning.

Attend the bimonthly Administrator Webinars for best practice and implementation tips and tricks. Webinar information and registration may be found within the Administrator Resources and the Administrator Dashboard in the AORN Learning Center (ALC).

Frequent the Administrator Dashboard on the ALC to stay current on course updates, register for webinars, and review FAQs.

Periop 101 agreement renewals and purchase of additional seats are now exclusively available through AORN. Find out what this means for you. 

Administrators have access through the end of the three-year facility agreement.

Exception: When a facility has an active learner beyond the agreement's end date, the administrator will need to contact AORN Experience Services at [email protected] to request for an extension. 

For the required completion of the Administrator Implementation Course, the Administrator receives .75 CH.

An optional course, Preparing the Preceptor, provides 1.25 CH if the Administrator registers for the course and completes the course and evaluation. 

Administrators do not receive contact hours for taking Periop 101 learner courses.

Yes, Periop 101 Administrators receive a complimentary 3-year AORN membership, which gives them access to learning engagement tools and professional development resources to grow their own skills.

Complimentary membership is only available to customers who access Periop 101 through the AORN Learning Management System. Contact AORN for details at [email protected]. 

To see your learners' progress (module completion status, date, and time spent completing the modules, and post-test scores), an "Enrollments by Group" report will need to be pulled. This report can be found on the Dashboard in AORN's Learning Center (see image below). There is also an Enrollments by Group how-to video in the Announcement tab of the Dashboard, which might be helpful. 

Learners will have access to the course content for a total of 2 years, allowing them to use it as a clinical reference even after completing the course. Most learners complete the course in 3-6 months. This resource can help guide them in their surgical practice during the early stages of their careers.

Yes, Periop 101 learners receive a two-year complimentary AORN standard membership, which comes with a multitude of benefits to set them up for onboarding success, professional development, and connect them with the perioperative community.

2-year complimentary membership is only available to learners who access Periop 101 through the AORN Learning Management System. Contact AORN for details at [email protected].

• Course Completion: Most learners complete the course in 3-6 months, but lengths vary due to class size, learner experience and availability, and course resources.
• Orientation to the healthcare facility’s perioperative services department:
  • 1 year for an inexperienced RN
  • 6 months to 1 year for an OR RN with experience

AORN recommends that learners complete a significant portion of their clinical hands-on time in the OR before taking the final exam in order to answer questions regarding patient assessment, decision making, and using analytical, clinical reasoning.

• All Periop 101 modules, except Introduction to QSEN, must be completed and the posttests passed with a minimum passing score of 80% before the learner evaluation is available.
• The Learner Evaluation must be completed before the final exam is accessible. 

• The final exam is to be taken and passed with a minimum passing score of 80% in a proctored environment with no electronic devices, books, or notes.
• There is a four-hour time limit.
• Information (including a Final Exam Walk-Through) can be found in the Final Exam section in both the Administrator Implementation Guide and the Learner Guide.

Final Exam Study Guides are available in the AORN Learning Center (ALC) within the Administrator Implementation Course>Administrator Resources.

If a learner fails the Final Exam, you may review questions with your learner using the Test Review Report located on the Admin Dashboard in the ALC before they retake the exam.

Additional Final Exam Study Tips are available in the Administrator Resources.

To pull a final exam report (includes the exam score, time spent taking the exam, and number of attempts), an "Exam Attempt Report" will need to be pulled. This report can be found on the Dashboard in AORN's Learning Center (see image below). There is also a Test Review how-to video in the Announcement tab of the Dashboard, which might be helpful. 

The following are suggestions to consider if this scenario is relevant to you:

• The administrator can review the questions missed with the learner the same day the exam is failed.
  • The learner can also review final exam study guides (same day or next)
• If needed, the administrator can designate an individual at the respective facility (eg, educator, supervisor) who can proctor the second exam attempt. The administrator can provide direction to the proctor including:
  • Accessibility of the administrator to answer questions for the exam re-take.
  • Reviewing the “Admin Final Exam Information Checklist” found in the “Administrator Implementation Guide.”
• If the learner fails a second time, the administrator can debrief with the learner over video chat, phone call, or in person.