Nicola, an operating department practitioner (ODP) at Addenbrooke’s, shares her CUH story for National ODP Day, 14 May.
What’s your role in our hospitals?
My name is Nicola and I’m an operating department practitioner (ODP) and practice educator in theatres at Addenbrooke’s.
My current role is in the practice education team, we look after our new ODP students and run anaesthetic nurse training in collaboration with UCL. We currently have 10 anaesthetic students across two pathways; five ODP students from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and seven ODP apprentices from the University of Derby.
With the support of teams and departments, I try to ensure the new ODPs gain positive and rewarding clinical learning experiences, qualify and hopefully stay at CUH.
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey
I always knew I wanted a career in healthcare but, like many of us, I hadn’t ever heard of the ODP role. I saw a link to an ODP course at the University of East Anglia and the idea of working in surgery sparked my interest. I applied for the course and gained a DipHE in Operating Department Practice.
During my ODP training I had to complete three core components:
- Scrub – working alongside the surgeons, looking after all of the instruments and ensuring the surgeons have what they require
- Anaesthetic – assisting the anaesthetist, preparing patients for surgery and intubation, and
- Recovery – helping patients post-surgery.
Once qualified I could specialise in one or two of these key areas and I chose anaesthetics. I’ve been qualified for approximately 11 years now.
I spent five years at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in orthopaedics. I joined CUH six years ago as I was really interested in looking after more high-risk cases with it being a major trauma centre in East Anglia.
I joined CUH in the general anaesthetics team where I got to experience working in areas such as neurosciences paediatrics, obstetrics, elective surgery and emergency department surgery, all of which provided different challenges.
After 18 months I joined the practice education team as an assistant, looking after our healthcare support workers and running inductions. And last June I was delighted to be promoted to practice educator.
What does a usual day look like?
It’s quite a varied role. I run training sessions on various topics such as cannulation, introduction to airway equipment and intubation for example. As a group we sign off student portfolios so there can be lots of meetings as their deadlines approach!
I also help in the recruitment process for ODPs, as well as promoting the role at virtual open days, for example at local sixth form colleges in Cambridge to raise the profile of the ODP.
I work clinically as well, in theatres and to support the students.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
When I’m working clinically, I like that the anaesthetic ODP is often the first person that the patient meets. It is important to establish a good rapport with them from the outset.
And although some people will think this is a strange answer, I find it a privilege to work the night shift - there is a real camaraderie amongst fellow night shifters. We’re all in it together and part of the CUH family.
What I enjoy most, however, is teaching. I love training the new workforce to ensure they have all the skills they need.
That moment when something makes sense – it’s priceless.
Tell us about something that really stands out to you.
We have recently developed a PG Cert with University College London (UCL). We used to train the anaesthetic nurses in-house but this is now a 15 credit, level 7 qualification.
Anything else you’d like to tell us about you, your role, your team or working at CUH.
Being an ODP is a hugely rewarding role and you can instantly see the difference you make each day.
We’re the link between the surgical team and other parts of the operating theatre and hospital.
Anaesthesia is a skilled area and working as an anaesthetic ODP requires attention to detail, technological knowledge and importantly excellent communication skills. You will build up a rapport with the anaesthetists as you work closely together, sometimes covering very long operations, 18 hours or more.
If you would like to find out more about the ODP apprenticeship please visit our careers site or get in touch with theatres practice education lead Rona Goodge.
Universities offering ODP courses include: University of Derby (opens in a new tab), Anglia Ruskin University (opens in a new tab) and the University of East Anglia (opens in a new tab).