Operating department practitioner
Operating department practitioners (ODPs) provide skilled care and support to patients during operations.
- Starter salary£32,000 a year
- Experienced£48,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll 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
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital.
Your working environment may be hot and physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of medicine
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of biology
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be flexible and open to change
- active listening skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a operating department practitioner
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.
The course has to be approved by the Health and Care Professions Council .
You can do further study to top up your diploma to a degree after you qualify.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You could do an Operating Department Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This usually takes 4 years to complete and is a mix of learning on the job and academic study at an approved university.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
Volunteering
Volunteering in the NHS is a good way to get work experience in healthcare. This can be helpful when you apply for jobs or training.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and 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 by the Royal College of Surgeons of England to become a surgical care practitioner
- train to work as an anaesthesia associate or advanced critical care practitioner
Career tips
You would be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values would apply in your work.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council
Guides for this industry
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