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Operating Department Practice

Entry requirements


GCSE/National 4/National 5

In addition, you will require five GCSEs including Maths, English and Science at Grade C or above (or a suitable equivalent).

UCAS Tariff

112-136

A typical offer will require a UCAS Tariff score between 112-136 points; or an Access to Nursing qualification (minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction, 12 at Merit, and 3 at Pass).

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About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Operating department practice

**Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?**
Operating department practitioners are fast-paced, challenging roles and we’ve designed our BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice to help equip you with all the skills and knowledge you need to start this exciting career. We've been running our operating department practice programmes for many years and students benefit from an excellent standard of teaching provided by staff from the University. Our lecturers maintain close links with practice, ensuring that the programme is always kept up-to-date.

In addition, guest speakers regularly deliver sessions for students within the University to ensure we give a diverse range of views and experiences to our students. These include sessions speaking with local patients and carers to gain a real understanding of the varied needs of our community. At BNU, we recognise roles in this field are hands-on – that’s why you’ll take part in simulated learning experiences throughout the course using our specialised facilities. This will enable you to recreate authentic scenarios and practise your skills in a safe environment.

**What facilities can I use?**
We utilise state-of-the-art simulation facilities for learning, development and practicing of skills and were winners of a Guardian University Award for our innovation and use of simulation to enhance our healthcare students’ learning.

We've invested in some of the best equipment for our students to practice their skills; we have an ultra-modern simulated operating theatre, anaesthetic room, recovery area and related clinical environments with the latest high-fidelity simulation manikins. During this time, students will be immersed in a wide range of medical equipment that is identical to those seen within the clinical environment including: anaesthetic machines, surgical equipment, diathermy, cell salvage, laparoscopic simulator, operating table and fibreoptic scopes.

**What will I study?**
Throughout this course you will be able to gain real life experiences as well as understand the theory behind the perioperative environment and care delivery. The course will give you everything that is needed to help develop into a qualified practitioner that is eligible to apply for registration. Clinical placements will be undertaken throughout the length of the programme.

This role involves working within a multi-disciplinary team to provide high quality, individualised care for patients throughout their perioperative journey and beyond. Working alongside other professionals, such as nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists and health care support workers, care will be delivered to patients during all three phases of this acute care environment, This is achieved through direct patient contact and care delivery in addition to demonstrating a high level of knowledge/skill within the management of specialist equipment and materials related to this highly technical area.

Patient safety is a priority within this field of care and ODP’s are required to demonstrate high standards in relation to professionalism, advocacy and decision making. Our course will provide the key knowledge and skills to achieve what is both required and expected within this contemporary healthcare setting, through both classroom based teaching and clinical placement.

**Career Prospects**
Working alongside other professionals, such as nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists and healthcare support workers, care will be delivered to patients during all three phases of this acute care environment. Although you will be employed within operating theatres, you’ll still be able to work in other areas. The theory and integrated practice that you learn throughout the course will help you work in a variety of clinical areas. We consistently see a high rate of employment with our local NHS trusts and from the placements they have undertaken.

Modules

**Year one**
**Core**
Fundamentals of Perioperative Practice
Promoting Safety within the Perioperative Environment
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
Engaging in Perioperative Practice
Foundations of Theory and Practice
Developing Perioperative Practice
Caring for the Perioperative Patient

**Year two**
**Core**
Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Influence of Pathophysiology on Perioperative Care
Developing within the Perioperative Environment
Expanding Skills within the Perioperative Environment
Applying Evidence to Perioperative Care
Advancing Perioperative Practice
Leadership in Perioperative Practice

**Year three**
**Core Modules**
Extended Independent Work (Dissertation)
Coaching and Supervision of Others within the Perioperative Environment
Creating Autonomous Practice
Actualising Perioperative Practice
Management of the Deteriorating Patient

**Optional Modules**
Legalities and Ethical Considerations of the Advanced Role OR
Wellbeing and Resilience within the Clinical Environment

Assessment methods

Within the operating department practice programme, we use a variety of teaching and assessment methods to help you succeed. You’ll benefit from simulation sessions, lectures, seminars and group activities to ensure readiness for professional registration and autonomous clinical practice.

A huge part of your learning will take place on clinical placements covering anaesthetic, surgical and post-anaesthetic care. Whilst in practice, you will be supported by a clinical member of staff who will provide mentorship, supervise your experience and assess that you are meeting the requirements of the course.

Both your theoretical knowledge and application in practice will be assessed on this course and methods include:

reflective course work
case studies
oral, written or visual presentations
unseen examinations
OSCEs
critique of evidence-based articles
dissertation
construction of an ePortfolio
practice competence demonstrated in practice*.
*80% minimum clinical placement attendance is required within the programme and is monitored within the Practice Placement Document

To ensure the programme remains current and responsive to the dynamic reformation of the NHS, we invite practitioners from our partner trusts to be involved in the delivery and on-going enhancement of the programme.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£16,750
per year
International
£16,750
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

Extra funding

Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships

The Uni


Course location:

Buckinghamshire New University

Department:

School of Health and Social Care Professions

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

93%
Operating department practice

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Health sciences (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

100%
Staff make the subject interesting
100%
Staff are good at explaining things
100%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
100%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

100%
Library resources
100%
IT resources
100%
Course specific equipment and facilities
100%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

98%
UK students
2%
International students
25%
Male students
75%
Female students
54%
2:1 or above
9%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
D
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Health sciences (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£24,000
high
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

87%
Nursing and midwifery professionals
4%
Caring personal services
3%
Teaching and educational professionals

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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