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
• 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.

Apprenticeship Details

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

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, physical, mental and dental development milestones
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 by spoken, written and electronic means with the public
• Communicate effectively by spoken, written and electronic means 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 about your own or others’ health, behaviour or professional performance
• 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 in you, your team, and the profession across all environments and media
• 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, accepting and respecting the diversity of patients and colleagues
• Provide the best possible outcome for your patients by using your knowledge and skills
• 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 from colleagues, patients and other professionals
• 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