Justyna Smazyk always knew she wanted to stay in operating theatres. Having spent years working as a theatre support worker and later as an assistant theatre practitioner, she loved the fast-paced, high-stakes surgical environment. But despite her experience, she felt limited. “I wanted to expand my skills, develop new ones, and be part of the registered practitioner team working in a high-pressure environment,” she says. She didn’t just want to be in the room—she wanted to be involved, making decisions, directly impacting patient care at a higher level.
For many, the idea of going back into education while working full-time can feel daunting, even impossible. Justyna was no exception. “I’m a mature student. I couldn’t just stop working and go to university full-time. I had responsibilities and commitments. The idea of pressing pause on everything for years just wasn’t realistic.” That’s why the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) Apprenticeship at Birmingham City University (BCU) stood out—it was designed for professionals like her. It allowed her to earn while she learned, merging academic study with hands-on practical experience in a way that made career progression attainable.
Her previous experience and foundation degree qualified her for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), meaning she could skip the first year of the programme and begin directly in Year Two. It was an exciting opportunity, but there was one major hurdle—she had to pass an anaesthetic exam to prove she had the foundational knowledge to jump ahead. “I revised like mad,” she admits. “BCU sent me PowerPoint presentations and study guides, and my workplace supported me too. It wasn’t just about passing—it was about proving to myself that I could do this.”
She passed. And with that, her apprenticeship truly began.
“Before, as an assistant theatre practitioner, I could only scrub for a defined list of cases. Now, I could assist in far more complex procedures. It felt like I had stepped into a new level of responsibility.” The leap was significant—not just in technical skills but in confidence. Where before she was assisting, now she was leading, making critical decisions and directly supporting anaesthetists.
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Throughout the apprenticeship, she trained extensively in anaesthetic techniques, airway management, and scrubbing for highly complex surgical cases. But learning didn’t just happen in real surgeries—BCU made sure students had immersive experiences in simulation scenarios, allowing them to practice under controlled conditions before stepping into the operating theatre. “The simulations were brilliant,” Justyna says. “We learned exactly how to behave in high-pressure situations. That kind of preparation makes a huge difference when you’re suddenly faced with real emergencies.”
One of the biggest surprises of the programme was how much broader the ODP role is than she originally thought. “I never realised how many doors this qualification could open,” she admits. “ODPs can work in ICU, A&E, research, and even mentoring new apprentices. Before this programme, I thought we were just in surgery—but there’s a much bigger world out there.” Looking back, she sees how much she’s grown—not just in technical expertise, but in her mindset, her resilience, and her ability to see beyond the immediate job and towards a bigger career path. “I never thought university was for me. I was afraid I’d struggle, afraid I wouldn’t keep up. But BCU’s support has been incredible. They believed in me—even when I doubted myself.”
Now, she wants others to see what’s possible too. “If you’re considering the ODP apprenticeship, just go for it,” she urges. “It challenges you, but the combination of academic learning and hands-on experience is invaluable. If you love patient care, this will push you further than you ever imagined.”
