An Exciting Opportunity: Apprentice Dental Nurse

An exciting opportunity to start your career as an Apprentice Dental Nurse in a friendly dental practice. You will work towards the Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship with Colchester Institute, attending college one day each fortnight.

Main Duties

• Assisting the dentist
• Preparing instruments and equipment
• Mixing different materials as required
• Providing suction support

You will undertake your practical duties such as:

• Cross infection control and decontamination
• Chair side clinical treatments supporting the dentist
• Processing of x-rays
• Accurate record keeping in line with the GDPR

Possible rotation in the practice may also involve working in central decontamination and reception duties.

Course Contents

• Identify relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy
• Evaluate the health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health
• Evaluate the scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and Biomaterials
• Identify the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma
• Identify the signs of normal and abnormal facial growth
• Assess patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in respect of dental care and oral health
• Contribute to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures
• Undertake orthodontic assessment
• Obtain valid consent from patients
• Record an accurate and contemporaneous patient history
• Accurately record dental charting
• Accurately record an oral health assessment
• Prepare records, images, equipment and materials for clinical assessment
• Process and manage dental radiographs and images
• Manage patient anxiety
• Monitor, support and reassure patients through effective communication and behavioural techniques
• Identify changes in the patient’s reported oral health status and take appropriate action
• Make arrangements for follow-up care
• Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment
• Prepare, mix and handle dental materials
• Identify and explain the risks within and around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and effective manner
• Implement, perform, and manage effective decontamination and infection control procedures according to current guidelines
• Prepare and maintain the clinical environment including the instruments and equipment
• Identify, assess, and manage medical emergencies
• Provide patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice, instruction, and intervention
• Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions
• Adopt an evidence-based approach to clinical practice
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with all patients
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with the public
• Communicate effectively with colleagues from dental and other healthcare professions
• Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records
• Communicate with care, compassion, empathy and respect in all professional interactions
• Give feedback effectively to other members of the team
• Respect the roles of dental and other healthcare professionals
• Demonstrate effective team working
• Contribute to your team in providing dental care for patients
• Manage, refer or delegate work according to the scope of practice of members of the dental team
• Take a patient-centred approach to working with the dental and wider healthcare team
• Raise concerns where appropriate
• Comply with systems and processes to support safe patient care
• Act in accordance with current best practice guidelines
• Act in accordance with national and local clinical governance and health and safety requirements
• Act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, the delivery of healthcare and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients
• Act with integrity and ensure your actions maintain the trust of colleagues, patients, and the public
• Demonstrate personal accountability to patients, the regulator, the team and wider community
• Work in partnership with colleagues to develop and maintain an effective and supportive environment which promotes the safety and wellbeing of the patient and dental team
• Lead, manage and take professional responsibility for the actions of colleagues and other members of the team involved in patient care
• Support patients to negotiate the barriers and challenges which prevent sections of the population accessing oral healthcare
• Treat your patients, members of the public and your colleagues with dignity and respect and without discrimination
• Support patients to make informed decisions about their care
• Demonstrate cultural competence
• Provide the best possible outcome for your patients
• Speak up to protect others from harm
• Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention at a community and or population level
• Proactively address discriminatory language, behaviour and microaggressions
• Evaluate the role of health promotion in terms of the changing environment, community and individual behaviours to deliver health gain
• Evaluate and apply the evidence base in relation to the environmental impacts of common treatment methods and approaches to the delivery of oral healthcare
• Contribute positively to the healthcare communities of which you are a part
• Evaluate an evidence base
• Utilise the receipt of effective feedback in the professional development of self
• Demonstrate personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice
• Evaluate the impact of new techniques and technologies as they relate to dental nurse practice
• Accurately assess your own capabilities and limitations in the interest of high-quality patient care
• Recognise personal assumptions, biases and prejudices and manage the impact of these on patient care and professional behaviour
• Recognise the impact of contextual factors on the health care environment and patient safety and manage this professionally
• Demonstrate own professional responsibility in the development of self
• Develop and maintain professional knowledge and competence
• Demonstrate engagement with systems and personal strategies which promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing
• Demonstrate appropriate continuous improvement activities
• Recognise when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised to a point of affecting an individual’s role or professional relationships
• Effectively manage your own time and resources
• Underpin all patient care with a preventive approach