DA5016 - Pathophysiology in Operating Department Practice

What will I learn on this module?

The BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice Integrated Degree Apprenticeship programme work-based route aims to ensure that students are able to demonstrate compassionate, safe, evidence-based and effective patient care, across the core areas of practice, at point of successful completion of the award (CODP, 2018). As an Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) you will explore the knowledge required to support and underpin the care of the acutely and chronically ill patients who are managed in a variety of perioperative settings, and expand your knowledge regarding the role of the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) in providing safe and effective care to the patient with complex needs. To achieve this you will analyse a range of tools and frameworks and investigate the wider evidence base underpinning perioperative interventions, in addition, you will examine the illness trajectory from acute presentation and diagnosis of a condition to living with a chronic illness and preparing for end of life across all age ranges. This module will support you to understand the relevance and importance of decision-making, problem solving and critical thinking to meet diverse patient needs.
On this module you will explore the biological basis of illness and applied pharmacology to help you problem solve and anticipate the needs of the patient including managing the deteriorating patient and living with complex needs. Evidence based practice will help you to understand and apply contemporary interventions for this patient group, and you will explore management and governance issues related to providing safe, effective and ethically sound care in the acute and chronic periods of illness or accident recovery. The theoretical underpinnings of perioperative care and patient management across a variety of settings will be examined.

How will I learn on this module?

There will be a variety of different learning and teaching approaches used in this module to ensure that individual student learning styles are taken into account.
All key lectures will be delivered electronically and will be available to you via Blackboard Ultra. The open access to these materials will help you to learn at your own pace and can be used to help you prepare for the range of face-to-face learning activities you will be expected to contribute to during the module delivery time.
Problem based learning workshops and seminars will facilitate group learning with your peers. The use of authentic case scenarios based on acute and chronic care practices will guide your discussions and support the exchange and sharing of ideas related to the professional role of the ODP.
Workshops will be a mixture of face-to-face attendance and tutor guided electronic delivery to help you investigate the concepts introduced in the classroom in more depth.
Seminars will help you to probe and explore the range of concepts relevant to the module and their relevance to planning and evaluating patient care provision.
A series of formative activities will support you to adopt skills in self-direction, analysis and enquiry-based learning. Formative activities will also give you the opportunity to explore prioritising, planning and evaluating care in complex situations associated with the module content. This will assist you in preparing for the summative assessment. All activities and supplementary material will be available electronically to support directed and independent learning.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Throughout the module, you will be supported by experienced academic staff from a range of specialist backgrounds. The academic staff involved in delivering this module will provide guidance and academic coaching to ensure you confidently engage with the requirements of this module. You will be provided with the opportunity to prepare for your assessment during the workshops and seminars during the module delivery. Your peers are also a key support mechanism within this module. Many activities undertaken within workshop and seminar sessions are aimed at facilitating peer discussion and learning from each other.
Additional study support is available from Ask 4 Help (on-line or face to face staff support) situated at Student Central at each campus. On-line resources and student support services can be accessed within the library and via the library homepage where a variety of study skills resources that can support your learning.
Reading material regarding academic writing will be included on the reading list for this module.
Extensive support from the programme team such as your Personal Tutor and the Programme Leader are also available to you throughout this module delivery.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Demonstrate an applied knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology across a range of major bodily systems and show an awareness of the impact this has in the perioperative environment.

2. Determine the role that public health models have to play in the prevention and reduction of disease and pathophysiology in the community.

3. Illustrate knowledge of the importance of different treatment options such as pharmacology, surgery and holistic care.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:
.
4. Provide evidence of research rich investigating and systematically evaluate its relevance to practice.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Apply and understand the personal attributes and behaviours that lead to public health problems and be able to associate this to the role of an Operating Department Practitioner

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment:

All the Module Learning Outcomes will be addressed (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5). Working in small peer groups you will find a health-related poster to analyse and develop ideas about the elements needed to construct an informative poster.

Summative Assessment:

Individual 15-minute poster presentation plus 5 minutes for questions.

All the Module Learning Outcomes will be assessed (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

You will present to the Module Team as well as a group of your peers. There will be written feedback.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module will enable you to demonstrate your ability to apply your knowledge of biosciences to explain the altered physiological processes or mechanisms leading to the abnormal functioning of organs and the resulting diseases or conditions. The module content will facilitate understanding of the complex and multi-factorial nature of disease and how individuals, respond to, physiological, psychological and environmental changes. You will examine the public health models that are in place to promote health and well-being within the community.
You will learn how to assess patients and anticipate their varying individual needs. You will also learn about the importance of providing safe, and effective treatments and care and how to provide, advice and explanations, to patients and carers, about their condition and treatment. Throughout this module, you will be challenged to examine your approach to care provision and develop a questioning approach to becoming an ODP.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time

Department Nursing, Midwifery & Health

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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