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I am an Operating Department Practitioner: ask me anything

NARLAS

I guess it is appropriate to say "let it rain down" (questions of course).

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by NARLAS

I guess it is appropriate to say "let it rain down" (questions of course).

OK, I'll kick things off. What does an Operating Department Practitioner do, day to day?

Reply 2

NARLAS

Original post

by DataVenia

OK, I'll kick things off. What does an Operating Department Practitioner do, day to day?

I knew this would be the first question-and I am assuming you have read elsewhere, otherwise my feelings would be hurt.

ODPs are specialist medical practitioner that work in theatres, anaesthesia and critical care. In practice, it means they have to develop some very high skills like intubating patients, sometimes work as Surgical First Assistants and respond to resustation calls.

From day-to-day, they prepare and help administer drugs and anaesthesia, scrub and assist for surgery and less commonly recover patients from anaesthesia.

Reply 3

sania_06

Hi, I've been looking into applying for ODP at university so I have a few questions.

Are you usually present in the operating theatre during an operation or does your work consist mainly of before and after?

Do you mainly work under the supervision or instructions of doctors?

What is the patient contact like?

Are ODPs able to easily move and work abroad?

I know the pay to work ratio for health professions like doctors and nurses is terrible - would you say it's the same case for an ODP?

This may be an odd question but I wear a hijab and cover my arms for modesty reasons, do you think the practical side of this course at uni and the job would pose a big problem or are ODPs allowed to cover their arms?

What would you say the university course is like - did you find it manageable or more difficult and were there a large amount of placements?

Sorry for the huge list of questions I just really want to make sure I choose the right course for university.

Reply 4

NARLAS

Original post

by sania_06

Hi, I've been looking into applying for ODP at university so I have a few questions.
Are you usually present in the operating theatre during an operation or does your work consist mainly of before and after?
Do you mainly work under the supervision or instructions of doctors?
What is the patient contact like?
Are ODPs able to easily move and work abroad?
I know the pay to work ratio for health professions like doctors and nurses is terrible - would you say it's the same case for an ODP?
This may be an odd question but I wear a hijab and cover my arms for modesty reasons, do you think the practical side of this course at uni and the job would pose a big problem or are ODPs allowed to cover their arms?
What would you say the university course is like - did you find it manageable or more difficult and were there a large amount of placements?
Sorry for the huge list of questions I just really want to make sure I choose the right course for university.

Hello,

You certainly are thorough, but that is fine.

ODPs are responsible for operating as well. Mainly assisting and without applying surgical interventions, but they would be involved with the surgery itself otherwise.

Even if they are working in anaesthetics, they are expected to be present and maintain anaesthesia as the patient is being operated on.

Yes, ODPs do not have a significant degree of autonomy, they utilise a very high skill set. They do so along side doctors and through their instructions and supervision.

Patient contact is minimal as they would very quickly be anaesthetised after you meet them.

ODPs can easily move and work abroad so long that country recognises the title/registration

ODPs have some of the worst working hours in any health profession. This is because they do critical care. Apart from long days and nights, you are expected to be on call and to do emergency transports in an ambulance, resuscitations out of hours, obstetrics emergencies, etc. ODPs provide a 24/7 service in all major hospitals and most minor hospitals to a degree.

Covering your arms would not allow you to work in any clinical settings. Universal policy dictates that you must be bare below the elbow. As for a head covering, you are allowed that and it is governed locally. You may be able to provide your own hijab, otherwise your employer will provide you disposable hijabs made specifically for Muslims in surgical settings. The only time when you will have to cover your arms is when you will be in scrubs, but that was not your question.

The course is fairly easy and manageable. The placements make it easier. Employers know your time is limited so they really give you a concise teaching. The down side might be that you would graduate and feel unconfident, but that is not a major issue. Consider an apprenticeship.

It is worth to mention that ODPs are highly specialised and therefore their progression is very difficult. Mostly they become managers and lead high profile jobs. however, for those that progress clinically, they go onto the more contested roles such as Physician Associates, Surgical Practitioners and Anaesthetic Associates. These are dubbed Non Medical Doctor roles and are at the centre of much heated debate. Personally I would say that the UK health system needs them, but of course it undermines doctors. I will leave it at that.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 5

23jooi

Original post

by NARLAS

I guess it is appropriate to say "let it rain down" (questions of course).

im going to qualify in 2 months and i still have not secured a job, im just really worried as i heard from other staff that they secured theirs pretty early in their third year. is it common for some to not find a job straight away? and is it okay to just wait a couple of months before you apply (maybe due to needing a break or just not finding any trust vacancies where u want to work). i guess i just am anxious qualifying and still not getting a job straight away ☹️ hopefully the trust i want will open up vacancies soon

Reply 6

aya_21020

Original post

by 23jooi

Hope you find a job asap!! If you don’t mind me asking though, how did you find the process of becoming a ODP: what are the best and worst parts?

Reply 7

ErasistratusV

People who wish to cover their arms or wear Hijab are completely permitted to do so in the clinical environment. Obviously long sleeves would be disposable and changed as necessary, in the same way you would do so if you were wearing gloves. This is absolutely no big deal and I have worked with numerous people who would wear these as part of their working practice. It would also be considered completely routine and commonplace or expected in many other parts of the world.

Nobody should be discouraged from working in any clinical context because they percieve the above as being problematic, unhygienic or because some overzealous IPC nurse is going to make their life difficult about not being bare below the elbow: a policy that is far from total and apparently perfectly malleable when it comes to wearing a wedding band which apparently isn't an infection control issue at all.

The NHS rainbow is one of the things I am genuinely proud of and was glad to see appear in the press because it genuinely best encapsulates the spirit of all the healthcare systems I have encountered to date (I.e. rather a lot of them). It reflects the fact that the people who work in healthcare in the UK are amongst the diverse group of individuals anywhere and that there is no barrier for anyone to work in healthcare.

A person's individuality is an asset to health services, not a liability. The people working in UK health services are supposed to closely reflect the population they serve.

Reply 8

23jooi

Original post

by aya_21020

Hope you find a job asap!! If you don’t mind me asking though, how did you find the process of becoming a ODP: what are the best and worst parts?

tbh i feel like most the time we spent was in placement, and the uni experience for me wasnt that much. so id say its good if u enjoy being hands on, u do quite a lot on placement especially during your last 2 years. i say i enjoyed it but theres sometimes the odd staff here and there that ruin ur day but then again thats a given in any work environment. the academic process was quite easy and straightforward as well