Amina is currently working as an Operating Department Practitioner Apprentice in Theatres alongside her twin sister Khadija.
She chose to do an apprenticeship at CUH because it is a teaching hospital, which meant that she would be surrounded by experienced professionals who were keen on sharing their knowledge and supporting apprentices in developing their clinical skills.
Amina says that completing an apprenticeship over other training or education is better because she can gain and develop her practical skills alongside her theoretical learning.
Why do you think that CUH are a good employer for apprenticeships?
CUH are a good employer due to their focus on innovation and them being a teaching hospital, I have been able to learn and develop my skills. As CUH handles major trauma cases and robotic surgeries, I have been exposed to key experiences and techniques that I may not have encountered elsewhere.
What does a typical day look like and what do you enjoy about your role?
As an ODP apprentice I rotate between various specialties in Scrub, Anaesthetics and Recovery. As I am on my year 2 Anaesthetic placement right now, a typical day includes checking and preparing theatre equipment and machinery ready for procedures (including the anaesthetic machine), setting up the airway trolley, preparing fluids and positioning equipment amongst other things. I attend the team brief where patient positioning and any concerns and equipment are discussed, I assist the anaesthetist with patient intubation and extubation, the safe positioning of patients and transferring patients to Recovery after their operation. I deal with patient documentation during all of this and once the patient has been transferred to Recovery, I clean and set up the theatre for the next patient.
What I enjoy about my role is that every day is different, so there’s lots to learn. As well as the patient care aspect, I can support and advocate for patients when they are vulnerable. Just knowing that I have played a part in the patient’s perioperative journey is rewarding.
What sorts of things do you do for the off the job learning aspect of your apprenticeship and does this involve attending college or is it all completed at work?
My off the job hours for university are completed online where, I am assigned one day during the working week. I work through my modules and attend any live sessions that may be scheduled on Teams. We have module exams, assignments and presentations at the end of each module. Although most of the learning is online, once every year we attend a residential week at the University. This is an in-person week where we develop our clinical and problem-solving skills via simulations as well as meeting the rest of our cohort.
Alongside this, I am also my cohort’s student representative which involves facilitating communication between our lecturers and students. My tasks range from collecting feedback and advocating for improvements to the challenges we face as students.
How have your department supported you within this apprenticeship?
The Theatre Education Team are very supportive in all aspects of the apprenticeship. We’re always provided with sessions that help us develop our theoretical knowledge as well as our clinical skills.
What are your future intentions?
Once I have become a qualified ODP I would like to stay at CUH and look for opportunities within the department to further develop my skills.
What advice would you give to others who may be looking to take on an apprenticeship?
I would say to come in with an open mind, a willingness to learn and a proactive approach. Although the apprenticeship involves a lot of practical and theoretical learning, it’s key to be able to adapt to the hands-on nature of the job. It may feel challenging at times, but the theatre staff are very supportive and keen to teach. As long as you put the hard work in, be proactive and ask questions you will soon develop confidence and progression in your skills.
The main theme of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is skills for life. What are the most important skills for life that you have developed and how has your apprenticeship training helped to build them?
I would say adaptability is key. In the theatre environment everything is fast-paced and constantly changing. Being flexible and staying calm under pressure in problematic situations such as emergencies will enable you to support your team effectively as well as maintain patient safety.