Elizabeth Birtles

 My name is Elizabeth, and I am a highly motivated and enthusiastic 3rd-year Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) student who is aiming to achieve my registration in July 2026. Twelve years ago, I began my career as a Theatre Support Worker within an acute setting, where I developed a strong foundation and a genuine passion for the perioperative environment. This experience has equipped me with advanced communication skills, meticulous record keeping, a clear understanding of clinical governance, and adherence to strict aseptic principles essential for patient safety.

I thrived in such a complex and demanding situation as a cardiac arrest, which confirmed my ability to think critically under pressure, prioritise tasks effectively, and contribute to safe, coordinated team performance. It highlighted my resilience, leadership, and patient advocacy within perioperative practice and affirmed that the dynamic, fast-paced nature of theatre aligns strongly with my professional strengths and commitment to delivering high-quality care.

Building on this experience, I proactively progressed onto the ODP degree, recognising it as a natural and purposeful advancement of my clinical career. I find the role particularly rewarding and exciting as it enables me to integrate technical proficiency with compassion, emotional intelligence, and patient advocacy. Seeing firsthand how a patient's surgical journey can be one of significant vulnerability, uncertainty, and fear, I am passionate about advocating for patients at these critical moments. 

 I began my career as a Theatre Support Worker within an acute setting, where I developed a strong foundation and a genuine passion for the perioperative environment. This experience has equipped me with advanced communication skills, meticulous record keeping, a clear understanding of clinical governance, and adherence to strict aseptic principles essential for patient safety.

During my time in this role, I was involved in managing a cardiac arrest situation, an experience that profoundly influenced my professional development and strengthened my commitment to becoming an ODP. Working within a high-pressure and unpredictable environment, I demonstrated the ability to remain composed, prioritise effectively, and contribute to the delivery of immediate, evidence-based resuscitative care.

I ensured that all airway equipment was present, checked, and prepared in line with resuscitation protocols, maintaining patient safety and readiness. Acting as the designated note taker, I accurately documented interventions, timings, medications, and clinical observations, recognising the legal and professional importance of precise record keeping for continuity of care and post-event review. In addition, I supported task coordination by clearly delegating responsibilities whilst reinforcing local policy, infection prevention, and post-event debriefing to support reflective learning and clinical governance. This experience strengthened my understanding of human factors, situational awareness, and the importance of closed-loop communication in safeguarding patient outcomes. I demonstrated accountability within my scope of practice while recognising when to escalate concerns appropriately. 

Thriving in such a complex and demanding situation as a cardiac arrest confirmed my ability to think critically under pressure, prioritise tasks effectively, and contribute to safe, coordinated team performance. It highlighted my resilience, leadership, and patient advocacy within perioperative practice and affirmed that the dynamic, fast-paced nature of theatre aligns strongly with my professional strengths and commitment to delivering high-quality care.

Building on this experience, I proactively progressed onto the ODP degree, recognising it as a natural and purposeful advancement of my clinical career. 

This extensive experience has enabled me to develop as an ODP student to develop resilience, adaptability, clinical reasoning, and professional accountability, preparing me to transition confidently into registered practice and contribute effectively to high-quality perioperative care. I can confidently work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, supporting safe and effective patient care as well as recognising my own limitations. I am competent in documentation, understand safeguarding principles such as the Mental Capacity Act and the Equality Act, and meet the ethical and legal standards expected of me.

 As an ODP, this means being observant during pre-operative checks and throughout the patient journey. For example, I would be alert to unexplained injuries, inconsistent histories, signs of neglect, or behaviours suggesting coercion. If I had concerns, I would document factually, report to the nurse in charge or safeguarding lead, and follow local policy. I understand my duty of care and responsibility under the standards set by the HCPC to raise concerns if a patient’s safety is at risk. To further advocate for the patients, I understand it is the patient's right to make an informed choice, as outlined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. I would always start with the presumption that a patient has capacity and support them to make their own decisions wherever possible. This is especially relevant when confirming consent before anaesthesia. A patient must be able to understand, retain, weigh up the information, and communicate their decision. If a patient lacks capacity, I understand that decisions must be made in their best interests (beneficence), involving the multidisciplinary team and, where appropriate, family.