Introduction
Operating department practitioners (ODPs) provide high standards of patient care and skilled support alongside medical and nursing colleagues during perioperative care, working with surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses to help ensure every operation is as safe and effective as possible.
With the current shortage of ODPs in the UK, qualified practitioners can look forward to a secure and satisfying career, with many routes for progression. The starting salary on qualification is around £24,000, which rises to about £30,000 after four years. Post-registration opportunities for further training and development are constantly growing and include roles such as surgical care practitioners.
What does the role involve?
ODPs are required to apply theory to practice in a variety of clinical settings, supporting both patients and other healthcare professionals. The role has a wide remit with ODPs undertaking a variety of tasks, such as ensuring equipment is provided and working, the environment is clean, and patients are correctly prepared for clinical procedures.
Key roles of an ODP include:
- Assisting in patient care either prior to, during or post surgery;
- Preparation of a wide range of specialist equipment and drugs;
- Assessing and monitoring patients physiological parameters and providing appropriate interventions during recovery from anaesthesia;
- Working alongside the surgeon, providing correct surgical instruments and materials in order to ensure safe and efficient completion of surgical procedures;
- Ensuring that surgical instruments, equipment and swabs are all accounted for throughout the surgical procedure;
- Acting as the link between the surgical team and other parts of the theatre and hospital;
- Assessing the patient to ensure they can be discharged back to a surgical ward area;
- Evaluating the care given during the peri-operative phases (anaesthetics, surgery, recovery).
To watch a video explaining the role of an ODP visit: http://www.eshare.edgehill.ac.uk/1378/
Why Study at Edge Hill University?
As a trainee in operating department practice at Edge Hill University, you will have access to some of the best facilities for health undergraduates in the UK, including leading edge clinical skills simulation facilities. You will graduate eligible to apply to the Health Professions Council for registration as an Operating Department Practitioner.
Our Faculty of Health and Social Care has been commended by the Quality Assurance Agency for the quality of its teaching and learning, student progression and learning resources. The practice placement experience of Edge Hill University students has been voted best in the country for two years running in the National Student Survey.
Edge Hill is in the top two among English universities for Students’ Personal Development and top two in the North West for Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2010/11). The University is top in the North West for Teaching Excellence (Sunday Times University Guide 2012).
Edge Hill University is ranked in the top four of English universities for graduate employment, with 95.2% of graduates finding work or further study within six months of completing their degree (HESA 2009/10).
To add to an outstanding set of National Student Survey results and a third shortlisting for the Times Higher University of the Year, we have been rated top six in the UK for Courses and Lecturers on WhatUni.com by our students reviewing their experiences.
Read more about studying with Edge Hill’s Faculty of Health and Social Care