Dental Nurse Apprenticeship

Overview

The apprenticeship in dental nursing is a 12-month government-funded course by City & Guilds, a Level 3 Extended Diploma. Alongside your learning, your job role within the practice will entail assisting dentists, sterilising & preparing equipment, reception duties and supporting patient experience.

Job Role

Day-to-Day Duties

• Sterilising and preparing equipment for dentists
• Recording and dealing with patient records
• Supporting patients' wellbeing and dental experience
• Cleaning dental areas, including chairs
• Managing stock of equipment and supplies
• Any other duties to support the dentists and senior team to provide effective patient care

Specialist Training

• Provide efficient and reliable chair-side support to the dental surgery.

Course Contents

Professional Knowledge and Skills

• 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, their limitations and selection.
• Identify the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma.
• Assess patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in respect of dental care and oral health.
• Contribute to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures.
• Obtain valid consent from patients.
• Record an accurate and contemporaneous patient history.
• Accurately record dental charting as carried out by other appropriate registrants.
• 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 appropriately, effectively, and safely.
• 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 as prescribed by the operator.
• Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment.
• Prepare, mix and handle dental materials.
• 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.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Provide patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice, instruction, and intervention.
• Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, colleagues, and the public.
• Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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, acting as an advocate for their needs.
• 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.
• 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, that takes account of patient compliance and self-care, to contribute to the patient’s long-term oral and general health.