As an operating department practitioners (ODP) you are a specialist vital part of the multidisciplinary perioperative theatre team, providing a high standard of patient-centred care during anaesthesia, surgery, and post anaesthetic care (recovery).
You can expect to work within the whole of the perioperative environment across a variety of surgical specialities assisting anaesthetists and surgeons alongside the wider multidisciplinary team.
Our patient-centred course equips you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to ensure that you can fully contribute to healthcare delivery in a dynamic and fast-moving surgical environment. Graduates will also be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
You gain early exposure to practice and gain experience across a variety of specialist areas including general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, ear, nose and throat, obstetric surgery, anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic care. Over 50% of the course is within operating theatres and placements throughout the North East with supervised practice alongside experienced clinical staff and previous Teesside ODPs. You follow various shift patterns including nights and weekends to gain the maximum learning experience. You develop the essential skills and knowledge supported by evidence-based learning in the University with lectures, seminars and practical activities in our excellent clinical skills labs and simulated operating theatre. Your learning is underpinned and enhanced by the academic team’s decades of collective experience in theatre settings.
All new and continuing eligible students on this course will receive a £5,000 learning support fund each year, which is non-repayable. Eligible students can also apply for reimbursement of essential expenses for travel and accommodation to attend practice placements.
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In the early part of the course you gain the relevant foundational knowledge and skills needed to work within the perioperative environment. You will gain an understanding of perioperative pharmacology, relevant anatomy and physiology, infection control and the legal and ethical concepts surrounding theatre care. Throughout the course, there will be a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice, clinical decision making and continuing professional development.
Anatomy and Physiology for Perioperative Care
You explore relevant topics in anatomy and physiology for operating department practice which informs your practice in relation to assessing and caring for patients in the perioperative environment.
You focus on major organs and organ systems with an emphasis on homeostasis, the systems assessed and physiological parameters that are measured in perioperative patients.
Where appropriate, some basic principles of physics, chemistry and mathematics are incorporated to provide a fuller understanding of anatomical structures, physiological processes and physiological parameters. There’s an emphasis on relating theory to practice and developing the knowledge and skills required to carry out safe and effective patient assessment.
Foundations of Perioperative Care
You are introduced to the foundation knowledge for perioperative practice with an emphasis on reducing the risks of infection in the operating department. Using an evidence-based approach and making reference to local and national guidelines and policies, this module introduces the principles of safe perioperative practice. Where appropriate, selected content from human biology, physics and chemistry is included. Within the context of infection prevention, you recognise your professional responsibilities and apply given tools and techniques to justify your practice. This equips you with the basic knowledge and understanding of key principles required to enter the practice environment.
Legal, Ethical and Professional Concepts in Perioperative Care
This module considers the professional, ethical and legal concepts which underpin professional practice in the operating department.
Perioperative Practice Year 1 for ODP
This module develops your knowledge and skills to actively participate in patient care associated with theatre interventions linked to portfolio competencies. You’re placed in a variety of theatre placements to work towards developing competency in the three areas of operating department practice – anaesthesia, surgery and recovery.
Clinical Decision Making in the Perioperative Environment
This module develops your ability to apply, relate and critically analyse evidence-based knowledge that underpins current perioperative practice. The main focus is on clinical decision-making and the effective use of the assessment process to ensure individualised care and applying safe practice within the perioperative environment.
You develop the knowledge and skills to promote independent learning whilst exploring the wider legal, ethical and governance issues that contribute towards the advancement of contemporary perioperative practice. You choose a specific aspect of perioperative care to use as the basis to demonstrate the effective application of theory to practice.
Perioperative Evidence Appraisal
You develop your knowledge and understanding of evidence-based practice and the quantitative and qualitative research methodologies that underpin it. By formulating questions, searching literature and critically appraising research evidence you develop practical skills in key aspects of the evidence-based practice process. The module prepares you for your final-year independent project – you’re encouraged to focus on an aspect of service improvement that is relevant to your area of work.
You develop your operating department practitioner understanding of pharmacology, specifically drug groups used for patients undergoing operative procedures. You do this through a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars delivered over seven days and followed by a summative unseen exam. The module develops your knowledge of the methods of storing, handling, preparing and administering of drugs in the operating department environment.
Perioperative Practice Year 2 for ODP
Following on from Perioperative Practice Year 1 for ODP, this module further develops your knowledge and skills to actively participate in the patient care associated with theatre interventions linked to a portfolio of competencies.
You are placed in a variety of theatre placements to develop competency in the three areas of operating department practice - anaesthesia, surgery and post anaesthetic.
Perioperative Practice Year 3 for ODP
This module develops your knowledge and skills to actively participate in leading patient care and develops your understanding of advanced theatre care, associated with theatre interventions linked to a portfolio of competencies. Specific aspects of leadership and management are highlighted, including developing decision-making processes in relation to prioritising, co-ordinating and implementing care. Aspects of advanced theatre care include catheterisation, draping responsibilities and advanced theatre roles.
Through a series of lectures, skills workshops and enquiry-based learning you develop your self-directed learning and teamwork skills to promote personal and team effectiveness.
Professional Development for Operating Department Practitioners
The Health and Care Professions Council standards require that registrants maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of continuing professional development. This module enables you to identify and apply strategies that promote and encourage the concept of lifelong learning and prepares you for effective engagement with continuing professional development. You explore the drivers, legal, ethical and professional requirements of professional development and how it contributes to the provision of high quality care. You explore frameworks used to identify your own professional and developmental needs and engage in strategies to demonstrate how you can effectively engage with professional development.
Service Improvement for Operating Department Practice
Modules offered may vary.
You will engage in key lectures, seminars and workshops. Practical workshops will be a key feature within the simulated theatre suite where you will practice in a realistic safe environment using SimMan technology to enhance your learning.
Each module is assessed separately, using a variety of methods including examination, practice portfolio, poster presentation and written assignments
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
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You are expected to have:
Plus any of the following qualifications:
GCE and VCE Advanced Level
96-112 points from two or three A levels.
AS Level
One AS level can be accepted when combined with two or three A levels to meet the 96 points required.
Access course
96-112 UCAS points from a QAA-recognised course (any combination)
*We can accept level 2 Access units in communication and maths in place of English and maths GCSEs.
BTEC QCF Extended Diploma
96-112 points (MMM).
CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care
96-112 points (C) in health and social care.
Foundation degree
A pass in any subject.
Irish Leaving Certificate
96-112 points from four or five Highers/Honours subjects.
NVQ
Level 3 plus 40 credits at level 4 in any subject.
Open University
60 credits at Level 4 with the Open University, or a CertHE pass in any subject.
Scottish Highers
111 points from four or five Highers.
Advanced Scottish Highers
96-112 points from three Advanced Highers.
For further detailed entry requirements for this course please visit www.ucas.com
Shortlisting criteria
Your application will be measured against the following criteria:
If you are invited to interview and the date is not suitable we may not be able to offer you an alternative date due to the high volume of applications received for this course - but it is important that you contact the Admissions Office immediately.
Interview criteria
At the interview you will be measured against the following criteria which is mapped against the NHS Constitutional Values (DH, 2013): NHS Constitution
If you are successful in both shortlisting and interview you will receive a conditional offer which is subject to the following:
*Students holding TOEFL qualifications at the required grade will be able to combine the qualification with a Teesside University English language test to meet the English language requirement. The English language test will assess listening and speaking competency.
For international enquiries please email internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
A qualified ODP is trained in all areas of theatre work and can specialise in surgery, anaesthetics or post-anaesthetic care. New areas of practice are also opening up to the ODP such as accident and emergency, intensive care units and specialist theatres. Career opportunities exist within NHS hospital trusts and private hospitals, primary care trust clinics and the armed forces.
You can progress to postgraduate study to develop to an advanced role and surgical care practitioner skills alongside surgeons. You can also develop your role through teaching, or pursue theatre management roles.
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply for registration to the Health and Care Professions Council.
Please note 100% attendance is expected during this programme.
Fee for UK applicants
£9,250 a year
Fee for international applicants
£14,000 a year
More details about our fees for international applicants
What is included in your tuition fee?
Why Louise is studying operating department practice studies at Teesside University
Why Abigail is studying operating department practice studies at Teesside University
I would highly recommend Teesside for anyone who wants to gain a professional career in healthcare. The facilities are amazing, they have great connections with the NHS around the North East and staff are so supportive.
The course is really interesting, and I feel like I will be well prepared for my first job.
Christopher is now a surgical care practitioner.