Surgical Nursing
SURGICAL NURSING
2025/2026

Practical classes in Surgical Nursing are held at the St. Barbara in Sosnowiec, Plac Medyków 1.
Department and Ward of General, Colorectal, and Multiple Trauma Surgery, second floor, sections A and B.

Contact for Classes

Brygida Sedlak, MD, PhD, bsedlak@sum.edu.pl
Klaudia Olszewska, MA, klaudia.olszewska@sum.edu.pl
Joanna Kitlas-Polasik, MA, jkitlas-polasik@sum.edu.pl

Paulina Kordziak, MA, paulina.maciag@sum.edu.pl

Marzena Rybak, MA, marzena.rybak@sum.edu.pl

SURGICAL NURSING

Lecture Topics 2025/2026

Caring for the Patient After Surgery in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract (Peptic Ulcer Disease, Cancer) Esophageal reflux disease (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, gastrostomy)
Caring for a patient after lower gastrointestinal surgery (colon cancer, anal fissure, perianal abscess, hemorrhoids)

Caring for a patient with breast cancer after surgical treatment. Caring for a patient after thyroid surgery.

Caring for a patient with a musculoskeletal injury, after hip replacement surgery, after surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon. Caring for a patient with selected arterial and venous diseases, including diabetic foot syndrome and arteriovenous fistula.
Caring for a patient with genitourinary system diseases.

Caring for a patient with burns and frostbite.

Caring for a patient with chest injuries.

Caring for a patient with multiple organ injuries.

Caring for a senior after surgery.

Patient care after "day surgery" procedures.

PRACTICAL CLASSES
PRACTICAL CLASS TOPICS 2025/2026

Semester I

Practical Class No. 1

Introduction to the workflow of a surgical nurse and documentation maintained in the surgical ward.

Patient rights and student responsibilities.
Preventing hospital-acquired infections in surgery.
Admission of the patient to the surgical ward and assessment of the patient's condition.
Preparing the patient for emergency and planned surgery, and for diagnostic testing.
Modern perioperative care (ERAS).
Types of anesthesia.
Transferring the patient to the operating room and admission to the postoperative ward.

Postoperative wound management, dressing changes.
Postoperative complications.
Assessment of the patient's condition after surgery and prevention of postoperative complications. Pain and principles of pain management.

Principles of mobilizing patients after surgery under general anesthesia.
Nursing diagnoses on postoperative day zero and subsequent days.

Therapeutic education of patients after surgery in self-care at home.

Practical class no. 2

Patient care in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal disorders.
Preparation for surgery and care after surgery on the esophagus, stomach, and esophagus.
Management of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Nursing diagnoses in the case of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Complications after gastric resection.

Nursing diagnoses after total gastrectomy.

Practical class no. 3

Patient care in the diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal disorders.
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Rectal enemas, intestinal lavage.

Preparation of the digestive tract for intestinal surgery.

Care for an anal fistula (stoma), postoperative complications after stoma creation.

Nursing diagnoses before stoma surgery.

Nursing diagnoses after stoma surgery.

Elements of psychotherapy.

Therapeutic education for patients with a stoma regarding self-care in the home environment.
Principles of proctological disease prevention.

Practical Session No. 4

Acute abdominal conditions: "acute abdomen," peritonitis (local and general), intestinal obstruction (mechanical, functional, paralytic).

Nursing diagnoses before and after surgery due to mechanical intestinal obstruction.

Acute appendicitis. Postoperative patient care.
Ventral, inguinal, and incisional hernias. Postoperative patient care.

Therapeutic education for patients after hernia surgery.

Practical Session No. 5

Care for patients with gallstones.
Diagnosis and surgical methods (classical and laparoscopic)

Nursing diagnoses in the event of sudden onset of symptoms.

Nursing diagnoses for patients with mechanical jaundice.

Nursing diagnoses for patients after surgical removal of the gallbladder and stones from the common bile duct.

Nursing diagnoses in a patient following palliative surgery for liver cancer with concomitant jaundice.

Pancreas diagnosis, acute pancreatitis.
Postoperative complications following surgical pancreatic resection.
Nursing diagnoses in the course of acute pancreatitis treated conservatively.

Therapeutic education for a patient following pancreatic surgery.

MEDICAL SIMULATION

Nursing care for a patient before surgery, including selected surgical procedures (surgical site prophylaxis, gastric tube insertion, urinary catheter insertion, pharmacological preparation, education)

Nursing care for a patient after surgery in the event of postoperative complications (postoperative wound bleeding, weakness, vomiting and nausea, pain, shortness of breath, postoperative wound infection, shock)
SEMESTER ASSESSMENT

Semester II

Practical Class No. 1
Patient care for musculoskeletal injuries, fractures, hip arthroplasty, hip resurfacing, and Achilles tendon ruptures.
Nursing diagnoses for the use of a cast, direct skeletal traction, and indirect traction.

Practical Class No. 2
Caring for a patient with breast cancer.
Nursing diagnoses before and after mastectomy. Therapeutic education for a patient after mastectomy - Amazons' Club.
Patient care before and after thyroid surgery. Postoperative complications and nursing diagnoses after thyroid surgery.

Practical Session No. 3
Patient care for arterial and venous vascular conditions (varicose veins, lower limb ischemia, arteriovenous fistula for dialysis, diabetic foot syndrome).

Nursing diagnoses for venous vascular conditions, arterial vascular conditions, and amputations.

Practical Session No. 4
Patient care for a patient with a chest injury - pneumothorax.
Principles of pleural drainage (passive, active, positional). Oxygen therapy.
Nursing diagnoses for chest injuries. Care for a patient with a urinary tract condition, including urolithiasis (ureteral, bladder, and urethra), bladder cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer.

Nursing diagnoses before and after surgery.

Practical activity no. 5
Nursing care for a patient with burns and frostbite.
Skin grafting, scar care, and cosmetic surgery.
Procedures using biotechnological dressings and living skin substitutes.

Nursing diagnoses before and after surgery.

Practical activity no. 6
Care for an elderly patient after surgery.
Perioperative risk assessment in an elderly patient.

Care for a patient with severe bodily injury.
Nursing diagnoses for severe bodily injury.

SEMESTER COMPLETION AND ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION