Do you want to play a key role in transforming patient care and making a real difference in people’s lives? Our BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice course prepares you to become an essential part of the surgical team, working alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, and other healthcare professionals in high-pressure, life-saving environments.
Learn from experienced Practitioners with a wealth of experience. Using cutting-edge simulation facilities, you’ll build the clinical knowledge, technical skills, and confidence needed to excel in the operating theatre. You'll also complete a series of placements across anaesthetics, surgery (scrub), and post-anaesthetic care, giving you invaluable real-world experience and a strong foundation for your career.
This degree is accredited by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), meaning upon successful graduation you can apply for registration as a qualified Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).
Why study BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice at BNU?
Fulfilling Career
Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) are registered Allied Health Professionals (AHP) that are specifically trained to work within the operating department and associated areas. This includes a multi-disciplinary team (nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists & healthcare support workers) which provide high quality, individualised care for patients throughout their perioperative journey and beyond.
If you have an interest in healthcare and are looking for a fulfilling role with great purpose, a career in operating department practice may be a perfect fit for you.
Support at every stage
We understand that strong support is essential to your growth as a confident and skilled Operating Department Practitioner. That’s why we provide dedicated guidance throughout your journey with us. During placements, you’ll have access to a BNU link lecturer, an NHS practice educator, a range of registered senior assessors, and additional registered supervisors to support you every step of the way. In the classroom, you’ll benefit from personalised one-on-one support from your tutors and the wider teaching team.
Quality teaching reputation
We have a strong reputation both locally and nationally for the quality of our teaching, the level of support we give to our placement trusts and more. Graduates from BNU leave us ready for the future, familiar with the skills they need and feeling positive they can gain the role of their dreams. The community feeling you gain in the classroom often stays with you, with many of our graduates go on to work in teams surround by other BNU alumni.
Accredited course
Once you graduate from this course, you'll be eligible to apply for registration as an ODP with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), which enables you to practice in the UK. We've been running our operating department practice course for many years and students benefit from an excellent standard of teaching provided by staff from the University.
Cutting-edge Facilities
We've invested in some of the best equipment for our students to practice their skills; we have an ultra-modern operating theatre for simulated practice, anaesthetic room, recovery area and related clinical environments with the latest high-fidelity simulation models. During this time, you 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?
This is a fast-paced, challenging role and at BNU we know how essential preparation is. That's why we designed our Operating Department Practice degree to equip you with all the skills you need to start out on this exciting career path.
Throughout this course you will be able to gain experience as well as knowledge of the research behind perioperative care delivery. Our degree will help you gain what's needed to develop into a qualified practitioner and clinical placements will be undertaken throughout the course.
- Learn to provide high quality, individualised care for patients throughout their perioperative journey and beyond
- Work alongside other professionals in multi-disciplinary teams such as nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists and health care support workers
- Cover all three phases of the acute care environment
- Demonstrate high standards in relation to professionalism, advocacy and decision making
- Demonstrate a high level of knowledge & skill with equipment related to this specialist area
- Prioritise patient care and safety in your work
Our lecturers maintain close links with practice, ensuring that your course is always kept up-to-date and the skills you learn reflect the current standards of employers.
Alongside your studies, you will take part in a range of clinical placements with our NHS partner hospitals. We work with a range of hospitals across the region and our students are highly respected while out in practice. We consistently see a high rate of employability after completing the course. Many graduates are employed by the trust that they worked in while at university.
In addition to your degree, you are given the opportunity to achieve additional clinical qualifications. This includes the Immediate Life Support award, which is delivered at the University prior to completion of your studies.
