Operating Department Practitioner

If you are passionate about delivering high-quality care to surgical patients within the operating room and associated care settings, our Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) degree is for you. This BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practitioner course will prepare you to provide high standards of care to patients undergoing surgery. You will learn to work with a team of highly skilled surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses in an Operating Department in the NHS Trust Hospitals and the Independent sector.

This course combines academic and clinical practice which allows you to put your learning into practice and develop the skills required to care for patients, primarily in the operating department. Graduates of this course will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a registered Operating Department Practitioner.

In year 1 we will prepare you to practise safely in the operating theatre department. You'll be able to identify and develop the required skills, knowledge and professional attitude in relation to professional practice and academic skills. You'll also develop a sound understanding of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.

In year 2 you will learn to apply your knowledge and skills during the patient’s perioperative journey, including a range of emergency patient situations. You will build upon your knowledge of normal anatomy and physiology by learning about pathophysiology and how illness impacts upon the body.

In year 3 you will develop specialist skills in critical care in addition to surgical first assistant skills. We will prepare you to transition into a registered Operating Department Practitioner who is eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

During the course you will have placements in the Operating Theatre Department, Critical Care, the Emergency Department and other associated clinical practice areas. When on placement you will be allocated a practice educator who will support your learning and development on placement and will complete the formal assessment of your clinical practice learning.

During the course you will complete a minimum of 1800 hours in practice during the 3-years full time. Placement is an opportunity to relate theory learnt during the course to practice and to develop professional, team working and decision making skills which are required of an Operating Department Practitioner.

Graduates will be able to commence careers as a registered Operating Department Practitioner. ODP graduates can also pursue higher degrees at Master's and PhD level.

Applicants must be aware that places are limited on this course and that if changes are to be made to the programme, it could impact on the start date.

Course Modules

Year 1
Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology
Technology to support patient care within the Operating Theatre Department
Introduction to Operating Department Practice
Academic Skills Development

Year 2
Pathophysiology: Illness and its impact upon individuals
Enhancing Operating Department Practice
Care of the emergency patient
Medicines Management
Understanding research in Evidence Based Practice

Year 3
Advancing Operating Department Practice
Role transition to registered Operating Department Practitioner
Exploring evidence for professional practice
Surgical First Assistant Skills

Modules may be subject to change