Understand the preparation of the operating theatre, surgical instruments, sterile supplies, equipment, and patients before surgical procedures. Review aseptic techniques, preoperative safety checks, surgical positioning, instrument preparation, and infection prevention principles.

Identify appropriate surgical instruments and equipment, assess operating theatre readiness, support patient positioning, recognize breaks in sterile technique, understand preoperative verification procedures, and prepare the surgical environment according to established safety protocols.

Review operating theatre procedures performed during surgery, including sterile field maintenance, surgical instrumentation, equipment handling, instrument counts, surgical team responsibilities, and aseptic practices throughout the operation.

Recognize commonly used surgical instruments, understand instrument handling and transfer, maintain awareness of sterile boundaries, identify potential contamination, follow instrument-counting principles, and support effective coordination during surgical procedures.

Understand procedures required after surgery, including surgical instrument accountability, specimen handling, patient transfer, equipment cleaning, decontamination, waste disposal, and preparation of the operating theatre for subsequent procedures.

Follow postoperative safety procedures, recognize appropriate specimen-handling methods, support surgical counts and documentation, understand equipment decontamination, identify contamination risks, and assist with safe postoperative workflow and theatre preparation.

Review foundational anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to surgical practice. Understand major body systems, tissue structures, infection-related concepts, basic medication principles, and physiological responses during surgery.

Apply anatomical knowledge to surgical procedures, recognize important body structures, understand fundamental physiological processes, identify common surgical terminology, recognize infection-control principles, and relate basic science knowledge to operating theatre activities.

Understand patient safety principles, professional responsibilities, infection prevention, safe equipment handling, surgical verification procedures, documentation, communication, occupational safety, and supporting duties within the operating theatre environment.

Recognize patient safety risks, support correct patient and procedure verification, follow appropriate infection-control precautions, communicate effectively with surgical team members, recognize equipment or environmental hazards, maintain appropriate documentation, and identify situations requiring immediate escalation.