Perioperative Practice Major - Bachelor of Health Science
Want to become an anaesthetic technician and care for patients throughout their operating theatre journey? Study the Perioperative Practice major in the Bachelor of Health Science, with online learning options.
Interested in a career in operating theatre patient care? An operation is often an important step along a patients journey in returning to normal life, and you’ll become a key member of a team that cares for patients at a vital time, and really make a difference to their lives.
You can study course content online from outside of Auckland, and access clinical placement experiences in real-life settings with one of our hospital providers, as close to your preferred location as possible. Some on-campus attendance may be required.
As a graduate of this programme you can apply for registration as an anaesthetic technician with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand. You learn from staff who are anaesthetic technicians, anaesthetists, nurses, midwives and medical specialists. There’s a focus on practical experience with clinical placements in a range of operating theatre specialities to ensure that the Perioperative Practice major prepares you for a successful lifelong career.
Talk to us about your study options
Thinking about studying at AUT? Book a time with us to discuss your study options.
This is part of the Bachelor of Health Science.
Download programme guides
With the Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice you develop the skills for a career as an anaesthetic technician, looking after patients during an operation. You'll learn vital competencies such as intravenous cannulation (placing tubes in patients' veins), ECG monitoring (monitoring the electrical activity of the heart), and airway intubation skills (placing breathing tubes into the trachea). These competencies will make you highly employable.
Learning is dynamic and will include classroom-based, online and self-directed learning, as well as reflective practice. Clinical practice and simulation experiences (including virtual reality) are important aspects of this major.
Year 1
Semester 1 courses
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication (15 points)
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (15 points)
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication (15 points)
- HEAL507 Health and Environment (15 points) OR MAOH501 Hauora Māori (15 points)
In the first semester all students study the same four courses (HEAL504, HEAL505, HEAL506 and HEAL507) to help you develop an in-depth understanding of general healthcare, learning alongside other health science students. You can study these four courses at the North Campus, South Campus or online.
Instead of the course HEAL507 Health and Environment you can also study MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment, but do note that this is an on-campus course at the North or South Campus, and you’ll have to attend your classes in person.
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (15 points)
- PARA601 Pathology and Pathophysiology (15 points)
- ANAE601 Introduction to Anaesthesia and Perioperative Theory (15 points)
- ANAE602 Introduction to Anaesthesia and Perioperative Practice (15 points) #
Year 2
Semester 1 courses
- HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry (15 points)
- PHMY701 Pharmacology for Professional Practice (15 points)
- ANAE603 Anaesthetic and Perioperative Practice I (30 points) #
Semester 2 courses
- ANAE604 Fundamentals of Surgery (15 points) #
- ANAE605 Haemodynamics in Perioperative Practice (15 points)
- ANAE701 Anaesthetic and Perioperative Practice II (15 points) #
- ANAE704 Cardiology in Perioperative Practice (15 points)
Year 3
Semester 1 courses
- ANAE702 Anaesthetic and Perioperative Practice III (30 points) #
- ANAE705 Advanced Resuscitation in Perioperative Practice (15 points) #
- PARA704 Clinical Risk Reduction (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- HLAW701 Health Law and Policy (15 points)
- ANAE703 Anaesthetic and Perioperative Practice IV (30 points) #
- ANAE706 Clinical Reasoning in Perioperative Practice (15 points)
# Contains a clinical practice element.
Workplace experience (clinical placements)
As part of this programme, you complete a number of clinical placements in designated services. Clinical placement opportunities exist throughout New Zealand, and you'll be placed with placement providers as close to your preferred provider as possible. In rare circumstances, you may need to undertake clinical placements anywhere in New Zealand. While you're undertaking your clinical placement, you need to pay for your own travel, parking and accommodation.
Hours of clinical placements you complete in this degree
You can find the approximate number of hours you spend on clinical placements below:
- Year 1: 110 hours
- Year 2: 450 hours
- Year 3: 540 hours
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
Workplace experience in AUT programmes
Study planner for this programme
Download our study planner to see what your studies could look like in the Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice.
Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice study planner
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for more info on a specific course use our course search.
Who can apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL)
You may be eligible if you're:
- Currently practising as a registered nurse or paramedic and you completed your nursing or paramedicine degree from a NZ university
- Currently practising as a registered anaesthetic technician
- About to graduate with your AUT paramedicine degree
You may be able to cross-credit your previous study and add a qualification in perioperative practice in a shorter timeframe, offering you maximum flexibility and two career pathways within the health sector.
Find out more
Several employers offer scholarships to support students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice.
To find out which scholarships are currently available for perioperative practice students, visit the AUT Scholarship database and search for 'perioperative practice'.
Alternatively, you can also email your scholarship enquiry to periprac@aut.ac.nz
Perioperative practice describes the care which is provided to patients during their journey through the operating theatre department as they undergo their surgical operation. This includes anaesthetic care, surgical care and post-anaesthetic care.
When a patient needs an operation there are times when they are required to be unconscious. There are other times when a patient would like to be fully aware, just not in pain. Both of these scenarios are examples of requiring anaesthetic care.
Surgical care is the care provided during the surgical procedure by the whole operating theatre team to ensure the patient is well cared for during a time of vulnerability.
Post-anaesthetic care, is the immediate time after the surgical operation, whereby the patient recovers or wakes up from their anaesthetic.
Throughout this journey, the patient requires a team of highly skilled and knowledgeable health professionals. Anaesthetic technicians are one of these health professions, and they work alongside doctors and nurses to deliver these high standards of anaesthetic and perioperative care.
Responsibilities of an anaesthetic technician
- Supporting anaesthetists in providing high standards of anaesthetic care, including airway management
- Working alongside the anaesthetist to place patients' breathing tubes and intravenous lines, including placement of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters
- Working alongside the anaesthetist to administer anaesthetics, including local anaesthetics and nerve blocks
- Monitoring patients’ vital signs (such as heartbeat) while under anaesthesia
- Checking and setting up life support and anaesthetic machines
- Delivering high standards of patient care after surgical operations
Where you could work
- District Health Boards (DHBs)
- Private hospital organisations
There are excellent career progression opportunities for anaesthetic technicians, including moving into management, education or advanced clinical roles such as resuscitation teams.
Professional registration
As a graduate of the Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand, and on registration will have the protected title of registered anaesthetic technician.
Fantastic employment opportunities
Anaesthetic technicians are a valued role within the operating theatre. With a Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice you’ll be highly employable nationally. Starting salaries for anaesthetic technicians range from approximately $51,000 to $80,000, commensurate with experience.
Other undergraduate study options
Majors in this degree
- Case Management
- Counselling
- Health Management
- Paramedicine
- Psychology
- Public and Environmental Health
- Individual pathway (study the Bachelor of Health Science without a major)
Other health science degrees
Postgraduate study options
- Only New Zealand degree that enables graduates to apply to register as an anaesthetic technician
- Excellent employment opportunities in this field
- Prepares you for registration with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand
- Offered at the AUT South Campus, with online learning options
- Two intakes a year: start in Feb or July
- Capable of relating to a diverse range of people
- Self-assured, confident, trustworthy and ethical
- Having effective communication skills
- Physically fit and able to deal with long shifts
- Motivated, resilient and realistic
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.