Overview
Are you enthusiastic, great with people and keen to make a living improving and saving lives?
Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are an essential part of the surgical team. They take care of patients, prepare the surgical environment and equipment, and act as a vital link between the surgical team, other hospital departments and patients.
Our BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice degree course, which we've developed with the local National Health Service acute Trusts and the private sector, provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to be work in this demanding and rewarding role.
After the course, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Operating Department Practitioner. You'll be able to work in area such as anaesthesia, surgery and recovery.cccccc
NHS bursary – at least £5,000 a year
When you study this course from October 2020, you may be eligible for an NHS bursary of £5,000–£8,000 a year.
What you'll experience
On this course you'll:
- Develop your skills as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP)
- Do lots of practical exercises to prepare you for the challenges of this field – you'll spend approximately 60% of your time in clinical practice
- Observe, examine, assess and engage with patients in a variety of healthcare settings with supervision and support from registered healthcare professionals
- Practise examinations and procedures on human patient simulators and our high-fidelity patient simulator in the Centre for Simulation in Health and Care
- Use your skills in one of our clinical placement operating theatres
- Develop your leadership, communication and problem solving skills
- Improve your academic research abilities
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- practical work
- hospital placements
There's a joint focus on this course between theory and practice, both in academic and real-world settings.
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- tests (academic or practical/skills based)
- performance-based clinical practice assessments
- online assessment
- academic written work/portfolios
- objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs)
- presentations
- project
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Careers and opportunities
What jobs can you do with an Operating Department Practice degree?
As a registered Operating Department Practitioner, you'll be able to take on roles such as:
- surgical care practitioner
- team leader
- theatre manager
- sterile supply manager
- practice educator
Work experience and career planning
Each year includes one work placement module where you'll get work experience in a clinical setting. Placement locations are liable to change, but recent students have completed placements at:
- Portsmouth NHS trust QA Hospital
- NHS Treatment Centre St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth
- Spire Healthcare Portsmouth
- NHS Treatment Centre RSH Hospital Southampton
- Southampton General Hospital
- RCH Hospital Winchester
- Nuffield Hospital Eastleigh
- BMI Healthcare Winchester
- Chichester Nuffield Hospital
- RSC Hospital Brighton
- Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
- Lymington New Forest Hospital
- Princess Royal Hospital - Haywards Heath
Our Careers and Employability service can help you find further relevant work experience during your course. We can help you identify placements, internships, voluntary roles and freelancing opportunities that will complement your studies and build your CV.
You can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years after you graduate.
