Operating Department Practitioner
Job Description:Operating department practitioners (ODPs) provide skilled care and support to patients at all stages of an operation.
Job Category:What you will do:
You’ll support patients of all ages in the anaesthetic, surgery and recovery phases of an operation.
As an operating department practitioner, you could:
- help patients who are anxious or vulnerable get ready for surgery
- prepare the operating theatre and make sure drugs and specialist equipment are available
- monitor instruments and how clean the theatre is
- provide the surgical team with any items they need during an operation
- talk to other hospital staff for the surgical team
- support patients after their operation and assess when they are ready to move to a ward
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of medicine
- knowledge of biology
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
As well as:
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisational skills)
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure (leadership skills)
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
- active listening skills
Entry Requirements:
To become an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP), you typically need to meet specific academic and entry requirements. While there are no specific subjects required, you will generally need a strong educational background and may be required to take courses related to health and science. Here are the suggested and other qualifications to pursue this career path:
- English Language and Mathematics: It’s important to have experience in English and Mathematics at a minimum of grade C/4 or above, as these subjects provide essential communication and numerical skills.
- Science Subjects: Although not always mandatory, having qualifications science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, or Physics can be advantageous. These subjects provide foundational knowledge for understanding medical and healthcare concepts.
- Additional Science or Health-Related Subjects: Consider taking additional science or health-related courses if available, as they can demonstrate your commitment to the field and improve your overall qualifications.
Post School
You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.
University
You’ll need to study a diploma of higher education which takes 2 years or a degree in operating department practice which takes 3 years.
You can do further study to top up your diploma to a degree after you qualify.
Work experience
You’ll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary work experience in healthcare before you apply for a course.
You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local public hospital trust for advice.
Apprenticeship
You could do an Operating Department Practitioner Apprenticeship. This usually takes 4 years to complete and is a mix of learning on the job and academic study at an approved university.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 38-40 hours of work. You could be required to work evenings/weekends/bank holidays on shifts.
You could work in a public or private hospital. Your working environment may be hot and physically and emotionally demanding. You may need to wear a uniform.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience you could:
- progress to team leader or senior operating department practitioner and manage an operating theatre unit
- move into education, training or research
- do training approved to become a surgical care practitioner
- train to work as an anaesthesia associate or advanced critical care practitioner