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Is a ODP a nurse?

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It's band 5 on qualifying, which is about 21k before tax. I get by on that amount fine. You get enhancements for working weekends and nights though. I moved from theatres because I wanted to experience another clinical environment but I still do agency shifts in theatre now and again.

Work experience wise, like people have already suggested in this thread, find stuff outside of theatres and try to relate it to the theatre environment. Also, try contacting the theatres at your local hospital and see if you could visit for a day and see what it's actually like.

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Reply 21

sully50sully

Original post by moonkatt

ok thanks!

Reply 22

EmptyNest

Re work experience, contact the hospitals and see if they will let you into theatre, also look at things like joining The British Red Cross and train as a First Aider. Another thing you could consider is being a volunteer in a hospital (would only have to do a few hours a week) or even try and get some work experience in a pharmacy!!Competition is pretty stiff for ODP entry and everything you do to show your interest will count for you. One of my 'offspring' did all of these things and received an unconditional offer a couple of days after the interview. They love ODP work :biggrin:

Reply 23

Bettyboo715

Hi which uni was the offer from. Instilled waiting to hear after my interview for ODP @ BCU?

Reply 24

Ron Taylor

You can become an ODP then go onto becoming a nurse or become a nurse and go into becoming an ODP.

Reply 25

Ron Taylor

It's a separate profession to nursing operating theatre work is not really nursing as such

that's what I thought as well but when I search for ODP jobs on nhs jobs it usually comes up with Theatre nurse/ODP, why is that?

Reply 26

moonkatt

Original post by Ron Taylor

They're a separate professional group but both nurses and ODPs can work in the same roles in the peri operative environment. Nurses have to do an additional course to undertake the anaesthetic assistant role though.

Reply 27

lmon

ODPs and nurses are different and both have their pros and cons.
I'm a third year student odp and the role does not differ massively in the theatre department.
Replying to earlier comments we ALL care for the patient. Don't even think of applying if you think that's it's the nurses that clean up the poo and sick whilst we sit on our little odp throne. We work within a caring setting, which involves patient care ! In the odp course we learn more about anaesthesia and a&p specific to surgery and anaesthetic. We are involved with A&E resus and cardiac arrest teams. If you want to work in theatres and anaesthesia/critical care then do this course. There'll always be a divide between the two groups, but most are both at band 5 on the same pay grades and have equal responsibility.
Go ODP !!!!

Reply 28

Jmacdon

An ODP starts at the same band as a nurse and is paid the same goes up in increments just the same. ODP's sometimes are all the staff that's in theatre one doing anaesthetics one scrubbing and a recovery ODP!

Reply 29

Ron Taylor

ODP is the oldest profession original Box Boys 17 and 18th century in the 40's to 60's theatre attendants mid 60's theatre tech but not official 1970's ODA
Then ODP. Problem now is training is so sub standard. To compete with the rest of the world UK ranks bottom

[QUOTE=Jmacdon;https://www.facebook.com/des.caluang/posts/921611961254646
at the same band as a nurse and is paid the same goes up in increments just the same. ODP's sometimes are all the staff that's in theatre one doing anaesthetics one scrubbing and a recovery ODP!

Reply 30

Ron Taylor

I have always stated that ODP training should be a 2 tear system either become an anaesthesia tech proper or surgical tech proper. Like initial 6 mths theatre experience then decide becoming either surgical tech or anaesthesia tech with 3 yrs BSc in either. But the backward idiots at the top don't have a clue

Reply 31

Hxjcn

I think you'll find hat ODP's are on exactly the same pay scale as nurses, it's just with people being narrow minded as such and nurses thinking they own the place, some people think otherwise

Reply 32

InArduisFouette

Original post by sully50sully

from what I have understood from the NHS website is that it's not actually a nurse, a nurse/theatre nurse is VERY different from an ODP.

Other than when RNs and ODPs work interchangeably in Reception, scrubside ( both circulating and scrubbed), PACU and if the RN has suitable competencies as an anaesthetist's assistant ... and if RN or ODP has suitable competencnes as either a First Assistant or Advanced Surgical Practitioner .

In many / ?most Organisations ODPs and RNs are used interchangably in reception, scrubside and PACU, which indicates it;s not a 'very' different role

The primary anaesthestist's assistant role requires specific competencies which an RN needs to acquire , but are in the pre-reg competencies for ODPs, consequently some places it's only / mainly ODPs doing that role .

First Assistant / ASP is not a role that a new Theatre practitioner regardless of RN or ODP will be doing until they have at least a couple of years experience scrubside / across all areas

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 33

InArduisFouette

Original post by Hxjcn

I think you'll find hat ODP's are on exactly the same pay scale as nurses, it's just with people being narrow minded as such and nurses thinking they own the place, some people think otherwise

yep they are

band 5 on qualification ,
generally
band 6 first assistant and/or team leader ,
band 7 as a manager or ASP

Reply 34

InArduisFouette

Original post by moonkatt

didn't have to PRSOM Moonkatt for that , Merry Christmas - have some rep !

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 35

InArduisFouette

Original post by sully50sully

I know quite a lot but odps help surgeons most of the time while as nurses take care of the patient and also I have done work experience in a care home with people who have dementia. Theatre nurses are different to odps it even states it on nhs website, a odp and a theatre nurse are very different check it out if you don't believe me.

you must be trolling

both Moonkatt and I have worked in Operating Theatres as RNs , we have actual lived experience of the interchangability of our role as a RN Theatre Practitioner with the role of the ODP Theatre Practitioner.

Reply 36

InArduisFouette

Original post by lmon

good answer

and there's 'no chair of anaesthesia ' in PACU or when you scrubbed ...

Reply 37

Ana Zinga

Thank you so much for explaining it so clearly what's expected from both practitioners.👍

Reply 38

Indianmotorbike

I am a student ODP- never call an ODP a nurse it’s a lifelong rivalry, ODPS work in three areas: anaesthetics, scrub and recovery. We are specialists in theatres where nurses are ward based and can do extra qualifications to work in theatres. ODPs cannot work on wards. Are band 5s and complete a three year degree (diplomas are being phased out), career progression is vast. As for being a male. Nursing and theatre work is non-gender orientated. Nurses have a more holistic ideology surrounding patients where ODPs are usually more methodical.