Dental Nurse Training
Dental nursing training in the United Kingdom is geared toward you being able to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental nurse. As such, the GDC plays an instrumental role in determining the training requirements of dental nurse programs through defining a scope of practice for dental nurses.
Other People Are Reading
-
Registration
-
As of July 2008, dental nurses in the U.K. are required to register with GDC. To do this, you must hold an approved dental nursing credential, such as the National Certificate from the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN), the NVQ level 3 in Dental Nursing, the level 3 VRQ in Dental Nursing, or the Certificate of Higher Education in Dental Nursing. These certificates are available with the successful completion of a dental nursing training program. As such, training for dental nurses is mandatory to register with the GDC.
Scope of Practice
-
Dental nurses have a wide scope of practice within dental offices. According to the GDC, dental nurses are responsible for preparing and maintaining the clinical environment, carrying out infection-control procedures, recording dental charting, preparing dental materials, providing chair-side support and keeping accurate patient records. Dental nurses also prepare clinic equipment, process radiographs, monitor patients' well-being, give advice when necessary and make patient referrals.
-
Programs
-
As a dental nursing program accredited by the NEBDN, the training program at Dentrain Training Professionals provides a good illustration of topics covered in training programs. To participate in the course you must be currently working in dental nursing. According to Dentrain, the course covers topics in health and safety and infection control in the workplace; emergencies in the clinical environment; legal and ethical issues in the provision of dental care; and anatomical structures and systems relative to dental care.
Apprenticeships
-
According to the National Health Service (NHS), some dental nurses also receive training through apprenticeships, which have historically played a large role in training young people. Apprenticeships in dental nursing are given by NHS employers as well as other organizations. Apprenticeships of course train you in the scope of practice of dental nurses. The advanced apprenticeships allow you to work towards the NVQ Level 3+ in dental nursing which would qualify for registering with the GDC.
Continuing Education
-
According to the GDC, dental nurses must stay current in the dental field by participating in continual professional development (CPD) options. As of June 2010, you must minimally complete 150 hours every five years. A third of those hours must be through programs that have quality controls, concise educational goals and unambiguous predictable outcomes. CPD options include events or programs such as dental courses or lectures, vocational training, peer reviews and distance learning programs.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit dentist image by Sandor Kacso from Fotolia.com
