Anyone here a operating department practitioner?

[Moose657]

So I'm starting a level 3 apprenticeship in the nhs, I have always been interested in doing operating department practitioner course, which you can now do as a degree apprenticeship. Can anyone tell me what it's like working as a odp? Thank you

Anyone?

Your best bet might be to try and shadow an ODP for a shift of two and see what they get up to. Also they’ll be able to explain pros/cons of the different local routes to ODP where you are. Best bit is obviously working with anaesthetists! (DOI: anaesthetist)

Thank you @Greybeardy I'm going in a hca for the first year then can go into something more specialist for the next 6 months (thinking theatre related ie theatre assistant or something)

Hi! I'm an operating department practitioner. I absolutely love my role and I've worked across various specialities. On qualifying I went straight into A&E where I worked for a year. I then moved back to anaesthetics before changing to day surgery (surgical/discharge).
It's a really varied role and providing you know what you're getting yourself in for, it can be an excellent career.

There are still many hurdles within our professional practice. Things such a not being able to use PGD for meds (this has been in the works for years, delayed by covid and various other things).

There isn't a huge amount of recognition of the role so often any work outside of operating departments takes a lot of willpower and a lot of determination to break down interprofessional boundaries. It can be done though and I even managed to get myself a job offer as a district "practitioner" in the community nursing team.

Top tip would absolutely be to shadow an ODP across the three specialities - scrub/recovery/anaesthetics. There are also many operating department practitioner forums on Facebook where people are normally more than happy to pass along advice and experience.

If you've got any specific questions about the role or what it is we do then I'm happy to answer!

Also absolutely, if you can do theatre assistant, it's a great opportunity to not only get yourself some experience, but get yourself known! It'll give you a great insight into the perioperative journey and how it works within theatres.

Thank you so much @Olivia199 from what I have seen ODP are band 5, is there much scope to be able to move up from a band 5?

Absolutely! In my trust, our band 8 clinical matron is an ODP!

It’s a fantastic varied role but do make sure you like theatres as that’s where the vast majority of the career opportunities are.
I'm not an ODP but I do manage Band 7 ODPs, it’s certainly not limited to just Band 5.

Theatre manager or Theatre Matron could all be an ODP.

Thank you so much @Olivia199 and @SauvignonBlanche