Operating Department Practice with Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University. Through a range of class-based group and individual activities, discussions, debates, personal reflection and wider reading and research, you will have opportunities to consider academic conventions, which include: effective use of literature; sourcing and reviewing information; various forms of academic writing; developing reflective capacity. You will also receive guidance on study skills and strategies, which will enhance previously acquired skills.

These professional skills are transferable and will be valuable not only in the immediate context but throughout your continued education and employment. By engaging with this module, we have set out clearly what we expect of you at foundation and undergraduate level, and will equip you with the confidence, competence and capacity to utilise resources to be able to meet expectations in this environment.

An essential element of this module will be your ability to analyse and reflect on your own learning and the way in which you have applied your knowledge, skill and understanding to any academic context in which you have engaged to date. Communicating effectively through a variety of academic conventions is a key skill for any student and this will be a feature of this module.

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This module is designed to help you gain awareness and understanding of current challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and how this impacts upon the Health, Education and Social Sciences sector, preparing you for your future education and journey into practice.

Introducing the Equality Act 2010 as the overarching legislation that focuses on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, the module is based on themes that are covered by this Act.  The nine protected characteristics, upon which a person can be discriminated, as laid down in the Equality Act, will be discussed throughout and you will be introduced to case studies relevant to your chosen pathways.

The module will give you the opportunity to discuss debate and reflect upon how challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity may present themselves. Using problem and inquiry based learning you will have the opportunity to explore and discuss ways of working which can help to minimise discrimination in your own practice.  The module will be made up of lead lectures, taught sessions, group work and individual study.

An essential element of this module will be your ability to analyse and reflect on your own experiences and perceptions, whilst gaining an awareness and appreciating the differences of others. 

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This module will focus on enabling you to gain a deeper understanding of the interpersonal skills and behaviours required to work in your chosen area. Through a range of class based and student focused activities you will explore the different concepts of effective interpersonal and professional behaviours essential to your own personal development and progression. By engaging in this module you will  reflect on your own and others  values, beliefs and behaviours identifying how this can impact on the way in which you will  be viewed by others. You will also address the importance of effective communication and how this can lead you to have a more professional approach in your chose area of work.

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This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University, allowing you the opportunity to negotiate learning of a bespoke subject. Under the guidance of tutors, you will be able to direct your learning and identify relevant learning opportunities that you feel enable you to learning more about a specific field of study.

The subject area within this module is student-led, with guidance and facilitation from designated academic and practice support. You will identify an area of study that you would like to review and evaluate, and which relates to your foundation year pathway and indicate programme.

A significant proportion of the module is based around negotiation with academic facilitators to identify extended areas of study and opportunities that are possible to enhance your towards completion of the study.

The module is not reliant on traditional taught subject sessions, although you will be expected to attend classes where you will work in peer learning groups exploring and developing your negotiated study. This approach to studying is closely allied to learning within the workplace.

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An appreciation of the principles of Human Biology plays a central role in the understanding of the workings of the human body. This module is organised into three distinct phases from fundamental principles, to physiological processes, and then disruption of the interplay of such systems in human disorders. This understanding provides a solid foundation for the subsequent study in a range of disciplines from healthcare, allied healthcare, and other disciplines requiring an understanding of human biology. The topics covered will also be underpinned by practical activities. Pre- and post-session activities will help to develop your key transferable skills such as being able to reflect and ask probing questions as well as being able to think independently.  Development of these skills will ensure a growth in maturity and boost your confidence which will lead to unlocking your learning potential.

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Students embarking on health related studies and careers need to have a knowledge and understanding of the factors that contribute to creating good health.  Evidence shows that the majority of these factors lie outside of the healthcare and clinical remit and so it is important that students are aware of the wider social, economic, environmental and political drivers of states of health of the population, group or client group they may encounter.   As health services are reoriented towards prevention of ill-health and health improvement, all health science students need to consider the ways in which they may work in future, to both understand the social determinants of health and the principles and practice of health promotion in order to improve health, prevent ill-health and reduce health inequalities.

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Foundations of Learning in Operating Department Practice aims will introduce you to learning styles and relevant theoretical models of learning and teaching which can help you appreciate the academic and clinical environment.

You will identify your own learning style and needs and identify how this will impact on your transition to higher education within healthcare.  You will also learn to understand how services users are important to your own learning and equally how you affect the service user.

Essential Biosciences for Operating Department Practice module aims to introduce you to biosciences and the essential knowledge of the human body that is required as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) to care for a range of service users.  This module will enable you to understand the human body, its normal functions and deviations from this normality.

You will learn anatomy of the human body, physiology and the principles of pharmacology in relation to the perioperative patient.  You will identify how homeostasis affects altered states of health and its impact on care. 

Foundations of Care in Operating Department Practice aims to introduce you to the role and responsibilities of the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) working safely as part of the anaesthetic, surgical and post anaesthetic teams. It will allow you develop your knowledge and understanding of the individualised, holistic care provided to elective surgical patients and the notion of human factors in ensuring a safe patient journey through the operating theatre.  

You will learn the principles of perioperative care and the impact this may have upon patient and staff safety and be able to assess, plan, implement and review the care required for patients in anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care.   

The Foundations of Evidence-based Practice (EBP) allows you to explore the concept and principles of evidence-based practice in the context of your role as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP). The key elements of evidence-based practice will be introduced and the contribution of evidence to the quality of service delivery in the operating department will be explored.

You will learn what EBP is and how it guides quality perioperative care. You will learn how to search for good quality evidence from appropriate sources determining the suitability of the evidence and using the evidence to provide high quality care for service users.

Becoming an Allied Health Professional (AHP) will introduce concepts such as professionalism, student’s code of conduct, personality traits and your impact within the operating theatre team. The module is closely aligned to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards, which you will be expected to work within throughout your student and post-qualification careers. 

Foundations of Operating Department Practice in clinical practice, aims to help you develop safe and effective transferable practice under direct supervision of a mentor.

You will contribute to the interprofessional team caring for the patient undergoing elective procedures in anaesthetics, surgery and post anaesthetic care units. This will include checking, selecting and preparing equipment, participating in the five steps to safer surgery and patient assessment.

Facilitation of Teaching and Learning in Operating Department Practice aims to build upon the foundation knowledge of how learners learn from your first year to facilitate teaching and assessment of learners in clinical practice.

You will explore teaching pedagogies and theories, which will help you to understand the evidence base behind approaches utilised to facilitate effective teaching and learning in practice. You will also explore the importance of diversity and inclusivity and its role in engaging learners throughout their professional clinical journey.  

The Diversifying Surgical Care Delivery Module builds upon the knowledge, skills and abilities from year one including the Bioscience and Foundations of Care in Operating Department Practice module. This will allow you to deliver care to a wide range of patients with diverse individual needs as a member of the multi-disciplinary theatre team within the operating theatre and beyond.

Diversifying Anaesthetic & Post Anaesthetic Care module aims to build upon the foundations you acquired in year one and further explore anaesthetics and post-anaesthetic care delivery. It will allow you to develop in your role as an anaesthetic practitioner as you begin to deliver care to diverse patient groups undergoing elective and non-elective surgery. 

Applications of Evidence-based Practice module will allow you to explore the relationship between research and evidence within perioperative care. You will develop an understanding of the research process to move the profession forward.  

You will learn to analyse methods of enquiry in operating department practice and appraise research evidence to identify areas of good practice and those requiring further research.

Identifying & Developing Leadership Skills for the Operating Department Practitioner module will allow you to identify, examine and discuss the importance of leadership abilities and the impact of these upon others. You will examine current themes within healthcare settings which ultimately have an impact on patient care and safety, and how the Operating Department Practitioner’s (ODP) leadership abilities can manage this.

Development of Operating Department Practice in clinical practice, aims to help you develop safe and effective transferable practice under supervision of a practice supervisor to plan and deliver care for a range of patients across the lifespan.

You will contribute to the inter-professional team caring for the patient undergoing complex and emergency procedures in anaesthetics, surgery and post-anaesthetic care units. This will include paediatric, shared airway, trauma and obstetric surgery.

The Advancing Leadership into Management for the ODP and Supporting Learners in Practice module will focus on your professional development with a specific focus on developing your leadership skills ready to transition as a registered Operating Department Practitioner (ODP). 

Acute Care Beyond the Operating Theatre aims to prepare you for the demands of an ever-evolving perioperative environment once you are qualified and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).  

The Surgical First Assistance module allows you to understand the care of the surgical patient as a member of the extended surgical team. It will prepare you to work in the role of the Surgical First Assistant (SFA) as an ODP once you are qualified and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Independent Research within Operating Department Practice will allow you to develop inquiry based learning as you undertake a primary or secondary research study as a research investigator to inform perioperative practice.

You will learn the importance of self-management, supported by a Faculty supervisor, to collect and analyse data within your chosen methodological framework, and learn how to disseminate the findings of research in order to make recommendations for future practice within the operating department setting.

The Negotiated Professional Practice module is designed to consolidate your learning over the last two years to prepare you for the demands of an ever-evolving Operating Department Practice (ODP) profession. As ODPs practise in increasingly diverse settings, this module allows you to select a specialist area of interest and evaluate its benefits to service users as well as your own professional development as a future registrant of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).  

Proficiency of Operating Department Practice in clinical practice, aims to help you demonstrate the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment as an Operating Department Practitioner exercising initiative and personal responsibility to meet the professional standards required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).   

You will contribute to the inter-professional team caring for the patient within and outside of the operating theatre as a member of the theatre team and extended surgical and anaesthetic teams.