An Operating Department Practice Simulated Placement involves students taking part in differing role plays in a simulated Operating Theatre environment, with human patient simulation. This enables multiple learning objectives to be taught in a realistic clinical environment. 

However, in contrast to a Clinical Placement under supervision, the simulated environment allows students to learn skills and acquire knowledge without fear of intimidation or any harm to patients. 

It also has the added advantage that students can learn from mistakes and experience a debrief at the end, laying the foundation for transition to Clinical Placement (Bridge et al., 2022). 

Students can also expect to learn from group work, peer support, case studies, scenrios involving professional actors, visiting lecturers, and a few twists along the way.

• The Simulated Placement has the same expectations as those laid down on a Clinical Placement. You MUST follow all placement policies and procedures during your simulated placement. 

• You MUST attend the Simulated Placement for the whole period and be present for the duration of all online and face to face sessions. If sessions are online it is expected that cameras are on. 

• You should be punctual and report any lateness or absence through the proper procedures.

• You should attend in your SHU uniform, with hair tied back, religious headwear tucked into uniform, no loose jewellery, and bare below the elbows as you would for clinical placement. 

• You must behave in a professional, polite and courteous manner and be respectful towards your fellow peers, and lecturers, at all times.

• You should be mindful of the guidance laid down by the Health and Care Professions Council - The Conduct and Ethics for students (HCPC, 2016) 

• You should engage with the learning materials and contribute to the simulated scenarios, group work and any interaction in sessions.

• If it is a live online session, then you will need to attend, have cameras on and engage with the session.

This is an outline of what you can expect the simulated placement to involve. 

Please note this may differ once the final timetable has been planned: 

• You will receive an orientation session outlining the  expectations, guidelines and goals for the simulated placement.

• You will also be introduced to the case studies which you will be working on as a group. You will receive background information, context and objectives for your allocated scenario.

• You can expect to participate in group work activities based around the case studies, you will hear from visiting lecturers and and there will be some self directed study along the way.

• You will have simulation days on campus in the simulation Operating Theatre. Some of the scenarios will involve the use of professional actors who will act as patients. 

• You will have a pre-brief session before a simulated scenario and a debrief session afterwards. 

• To record your achievements you will also complete an E-Portfolio to showcase both your individual and your group work via PebblePad.