探花直播

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. 鈥淚 wanted to expand my skills, develop new ones, and be part of the registered practitioner team working in a high-pressure environment,鈥� she says. She didn鈥檛 just want to be in the room鈥攕he 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. 鈥淚鈥檓 a mature student. I couldn鈥檛 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鈥檛 realistic.鈥� That鈥檚 why the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) Apprenticeship at 探花直播 (BCU) stood out鈥攊t 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鈥攕he had to pass an anaesthetic exam to prove she had the foundational knowledge to jump ahead. 鈥淚 revised like mad,鈥� she admits. 鈥淏CU sent me PowerPoint presentations and study guides, and my workplace supported me too. It wasn鈥檛 just about passing鈥攊t was about proving to myself that I could do this.鈥�

She passed. And with that, her apprenticeship truly began.

鈥淏efore, 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.鈥� The leap was significant鈥攏ot just in technical skills but in confidence. Where before she was assisting, now she was leading, making critical decisions and directly supporting anaesthetists.

Throughout the apprenticeship, she trained extensively in anaesthetic techniques, airway management, and scrubbing for highly complex surgical cases. But learning didn鈥檛 just happen in real surgeries鈥擝CU made sure students had immersive experiences in simulation scenarios, allowing them to practice under controlled conditions before stepping into the operating theatre. 鈥淭he simulations were brilliant,鈥� Justyna says. 鈥淲e learned exactly how to behave in high-pressure situations. That kind of preparation makes a huge difference when you鈥檙e suddenly faced with real emergencies.鈥�

One of the biggest surprises of the programme was how much broader the ODP role is than she originally thought. 鈥淚 never realised how many doors this qualification could open,鈥� she admits. 鈥淥DPs can work in ICU, A&E, research, and even mentoring new apprentices. Before this programme, I thought we were just in surgery鈥攂ut there鈥檚 a much bigger world out there.鈥� Looking back, she sees how much she鈥檚 grown鈥攏ot 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. 鈥淚 never thought university was for me. I was afraid I鈥檇 struggle, afraid I wouldn鈥檛 keep up. But BCU鈥檚 support has been incredible. They believed in me鈥攅ven when I doubted myself.鈥�

Now, she wants others to see what鈥檚 possible too. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e considering the ODP apprenticeship, just go for it,鈥� she urges. 鈥淚t 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.鈥�