Operating Department Practice

Program Overview

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Operating Department Practice BSc (Hons)

Overview

Train to provide high standards of care for people during the anaesthetic, surgery, and recovery phases of surgical treatment. After graduation, you'll be eligible to register as an Operating Department Practitioner with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Course Features

• Professional accreditation
• Professional practice placements

What You'll Study

This course adheres closely to the six core values of the NHS. These values, enshrined within the NHS Constitution, have been developed by patients, the public, and staff to inspire passion in the NHS, guide it in the 21st century, and provide common ground for cooperation in achieving shared aspirations.

Year 1

• Anatomy and Physiology in Perioperative Practice
  • Module code: ODP1003
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Exam
• Clinical Practice and Simulation 1
  • Module code: ODP1004
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: 100% Practical
• Fundamental Principles of Perioperative Care
  • Module code: ODP1001
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Practical
• Legal, Ethical and Social Issues in Perioperative Care
  • Module code: ODP1002
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Coursework
• Preparation for Professional Practice
  • Module code: ODP1000
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Coursework

Year 2

• Appraising Research in Health and Social Care
  • Module code: ODP2003
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Practical
• Clinical Practice and Simulation 2
  • Module code: ODP2000
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: 100% Practical
• Holistic Perioperative Care Across the Lifespan
  • Module code: ODP2002
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Exam
• Pharmacology in Perioperative Practice
  • Module code: ODP2001
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Exam
• Principles of Post-Anaesthetic Care
  • Module code: ODP2004
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Coursework

Year 3

• Clinical Practice and Simulation 3
  • Module code: ODP3001
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: 100% Practical
• Enhanced Skills in Perioperative Practice
  • Module code: ODP3000
  • Credits: 30
  • Assessment: 100% Coursework
• Emergency Care in Anaesthesia
  • Module code: ODP3003
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: 100% Exam
• Leadership and Governance
  • Module code: ODP3002
  • Credits: 30
  • Assessment: 50% Coursework, 50% Practical

How You'll Study

The course is approximately 50% practice and 50% theory. Class sessions are in large blocks and occur throughout the year, followed by the necessary weeks of clinical practice. Teaching takes place at either Edge Hill University's Ormskirk campus or our St James' campus in Manchester.

How You'll Be Assessed

Assessment will be ongoing throughout the programme. Theoretical assessments can consist of exams, written assignments, oral presentations, oral examinations, and practical exams called Objective Structured Clinical Examinations. Practical assessments take place in the clinical placement area and in clinical skills facilities.

Who Will Be Teaching You

The main teaching team for this programme are experienced tutors with an extensive background as nurses and operating department practitioners in perioperative care. In addition, anaesthetists, perioperative practitioners, practice facilitators, workplace mentors, and other academic members of staff will be involved in elements of teaching and assessment.

Entry Criteria

• Typical offer: 104-112 UCAS Tariff points, for which no specific subjects are required, plus GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics at Grade C or Grade 4 or above (or equivalent).
• Eligible candidates must provide evidence of study within the five years prior to application.
• An interview forms part of the selection process.

Facilities

The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine offers outstanding facilities for the education and training of health and social care professionals. The contemporary teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.

Finance

Tuition Fees

• 2024/25: £9,250 a year
• 2025/26: £9,535 a year

Financial Support

Students on this course may be entitled to the NHS Learner Support Fund if eligible. Visit the NHS Business Services Authority website for further information.

Your Future Career

There's a national shortage of ODPs, for the foreseeable future, therefore there's a high demand for operating department practitioners within the UK. After graduation, you'll be well-placed to apply for a job within an operating department in NHS trusts, independent sector hospitals, private medical sales companies, organ transplant teams, or you could continue your research in academia.

Following registration as an Operating Department Practitioner, there's a fantastic range of patient care roles that you could move into. ODPs are involved in many aspects of critical care, including resuscitation and ICU treatments. Depending on your specialism within the field, you could apply for rewarding roles such as:

• Anaesthetic practitioner
• Surgical practitioner
• Surgical first assistant
• Surgical care practitioner
• Physicians associate
• Non-medical anaesthetist

All NHS staff are encouraged to embrace 'lifelong learning', to develop their academic and clinical skills. Some graduates revisit or continue at Edge Hill to sharpen existing abilities and develop new ones.

Our Continued Professional Development courses range from stand-alone modules to Masters level courses.

Program Outline

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Outline:

• Year 1:
• Anatomy and Physiology in Perioperative Practice: Introduces the basic scientific principles that enable an understanding of the structure and function of the body in health and disease across the human lifespan that may require surgical and/or anaesthetic intervention.
• Clinical Practice and Simulation 1: Develops proficiency in a range of practical and professional experiences to develop and acquire key skills which are underpinned by professional knowledge.
• Fundamental Principles of Perioperative Care: Enables the development of knowledge and understanding of some of the principles relating to perioperative practice.
• Legal, Ethical and Social Issues in Perioperative Care: Provides knowledge and understanding of these key areas to empower students to act as an advocate for the perioperative patient.
• Preparation for Professional Practice: Enables the development of knowledge and understanding of fundamental operating department practice.
• Year 2:
• Appraising Research in Health and Social Care: Introduces the core methods which underpin quantitative and qualitative research designs and the application of research evidence to practice.
• Clinical Practice and Simulation 2: Consolidates skills in relation to clinical and professional practice.
• Holistic Perioperative Care Across the Lifespan: Enables the development of knowledge and skills in providing holistic care for patients across the age spectrum in all aspects of perioperative care.
• Pharmacology in Perioperative Practice: Enables the development of knowledge and understanding of drugs used in the perioperative setting.
• Principles of Post-Anaesthetic Care: Enables the development of knowledge and understanding of post-anaesthesia recovery.
• Year 3:
• Clinical Practice and Simulation 3: Offers a range of practical and professional experiences to achieve proficiency in key skills which are underpinned by professional knowledge.
• Enhanced Skills in Perioperative Practice: Enables the development of knowledge and understanding of the principles of enhanced scrub practice, utilising an evidence-based approach.
• Emergency Care in Anaesthesia: Prepares students to participate in the safe delivery of care at acute stages of the patient’s perioperative journey.
• Leadership and Governance: Focuses on the importance of effective collaborative inter-professional relationships, developing an understanding of human factors and the resolution of potential inter-professional conflicts.

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Assessment:

• Exams
• Written assignments
• Oral presentations
• Oral examinations
• Practical exams called Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
• Practical assessments in the clinical placement area and in clinical skills facilities

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Teaching:

• Experienced tutors with an extensive background as nurses and operating department practitioners in perioperative care
• Anaesthetists, perioperative practitioners, practice facilitators, workplace mentors, and other academic members of staff

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Careers:

• Operating department practitioners within the UK
• NHS trusts
• Independent sector hospitals
• Private medical sales companies
• Organ transplant teams
• Academia
• Anaesthetic practitioner
• Surgical practitioner
• Surgical first assistant
• Surgical care practitioner
• Physicians associate
• Non-medical anaesthetist

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Other:

• The course is approximately 50% practice and 50% theory.
• Class sessions are in large blocks and occur throughout the year, followed by the necessary weeks of clinical practice.
• Students will be working in a placement in either Merseyside, East Cheshire or Greater Manchester.
• As operating departments are accessible 24 hours a day, students may be required to work at weekends, evenings and night time as well as through the day.
• Students are responsible for travel to and from placements but travel costs can be reimbursed.

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2024/25 Tuition fees UK Full-Time £9,250 a year The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course. Money Matters EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support.