Dental nurse (GDC 2023)

Knowledge

K1: The aetiology, pathogenesis and epidemiological trends of oral and dental disease and their application to patient management. Back to Duty

K2: Clinical presentations of oral and dental diseases relevant to the role of a dental nurse and the principles underpinning their diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Back to Duty

K3: The variance in disease presentation across diverse cultural and social groups, and those with protected characteristics, and how this impacts diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Back to Duty

K4: General and systemic diseases and psychological conditions, and their relevance to oral health and impact on clinical treatment, patient compliance, self-care, and outcomes. Back to Duty

K5: The relevance to patient management of dental, oral, craniofacial, and generalanatomy, recognising the diversity of anatomy across the patient. Back to Duty

K6: Physiology and its application to patient management. Back to Duty

K7: Psychological and sociological concepts and theoretical frameworks of health, illness, behavioural change and disease, and how these can be applied in clinical practice. Back to Duty

K8: The potential routes of transmission of infectious agents in dental practice, mechanisms for the prevention of infection, the scientific principles of decontamination and disinfection. Back to Duty

K9: The need for effective recorded maintenance and testing of equipment and requirements for appropriate storage, handling, and use of materials. Back to Duty

K10: Health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health. Back to Duty

K11: The scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and biomaterials used in dentistry. Back to Duty

K12: The scientific principles of medical ionizing radiation and statutory regulations, and how these are applied to clinical practice. Back to Duty

K13: The principles of obtaining valid patient consent. Back to Duty

K14: The importance of each component of the patient assessment process. Back to Duty

K15: How to raise safeguarding concerns for children and adults and act accordingly. Back to Duty

K16: Principles of preventive care. Back to Duty

K17: How diet and nutritional status can influence oral and general health and how to provide appropriate advice and support. Back to Duty

K18: Common signs and symptoms of oral cancer and the importance of raising a concern and early referral. Back to Duty

K19: The responsibilities of the dental team as an access point to and from wider healthcare. Back to Duty

K20: The roles and organisation of various referral networks, clinical guidelines and policies and local variation. Back to Duty

K21: Common conditions and complications that may arise following dental implant therapy. Back to Duty

K22: The importance and components of a comprehensive and contemporaneous patient history. Back to Duty

K23: The risks within and around the clinical environment. Back to Duty

K24: The use of a range of communication methods and technologies and their appropriate application in support of clinical practice. Back to Duty

K25: The importance of non-verbal communication, including listening skills, and the barriers to effective communication. Back to Duty

K26: The professional expectations, potential impact, and consequence of using social media as a communication tool. Back to Duty

K27: The importance of contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records in accordance with legal requirements and best practice. Back to Duty

K28: The legal responsibilities of maintaining and protecting patients’ information. Back to Duty

K29: The responsibilities and limitations of delegating to other members of the dental team. Back to Duty

K30: The role and professional responsibilities associated with appraisal; training and review of colleagues; provision of and receipt of effective feedback in the context of developing members of the dental team Back to Duty

K31: The roles of dental and other healthcare professionals in the context of learning and working in a dental and wider healthcare team. Back to Duty

K32: The contribution that team members and effective team working makes to the delivery of safe and effective high-quality care, including the benefits of working in culturally diverse teams. Back to Duty

K33: Team working guidance provided by the GDC and other relevant bodies. Back to Duty

K34: The impact of Direct Access on each registrant group and the impact on the application of each group’s scope of practice. Back to Duty

K35: The scope of practice of each member of the dental team and how the roles interact for effective teamwork and patient care. Back to Duty

K36: The need to ensure that those who raise concerns are protected from discrimination or other detrimental effects. Back to Duty

K37: The differences between management and leadership. Back to Duty

K38: Own management and leadership role and the range of skills and knowledge required to do this effectively. Back to Duty

K39: How to take responsibility for the quality of services and devices provided to the patient as relevant to own scope of practice. Back to Duty

K40: The GDC’s expectations and requirements as set out in regulations and guidance and other relevant laws, ethical guidance and systems, in addition to the above legal frameworks. Back to Duty

K41: The importance of having appropriate indemnity arrangements in place for both the professional and patient. Back to Duty

K42: The importance of candour and effective communication with patients when things go wrong or when dealing with a complaint. Back to Duty

K43: How and where to report any patient safety issues which arise. Back to Duty

K44: The responsibilities of, and mechanisms for raising concerns about your own or others’ health, behaviour or professional performance as described in GDC guidance. Back to Duty

K45: Diversity, equality, inclusion and discrimination and the underpinning legislation, and explain how to apply these principles to manage patients with protected characteristics and work within the dental team, noting that this legislation may differ in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Back to Duty

K46: Attributes of professional attitudes and behaviour in all environments and media, including interaction with social media. Back to Duty

K47: The principles and procedures for good complaints handling. Back to Duty

K48: The responsibility that dental practices and individual practitioners have in compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks. Back to Duty

K49: Cultural competence and its relevance in assessing the needs and planning care for patients from diverse backgrounds. Back to Duty

K50: The dental and wider healthcare systems dental professionals work within including local and national health policy and organisations, delivery of healthcare and equity. Back to Duty

K51: The basic principles of a population health approach including demographic and social trends, UK and international oral health trends, determinants of health and inequalities in health, and the ways in which these are measured and current patterns. Back to Duty

K52: The role of health promotion in terms of the changing environment, community and individual behaviours to deliver health gain. Back to Duty

K53: Methods of evidence-based prevention at a community and or population level. Back to Duty

K54: The principles of planning oral health care for communities to meet needs and demands. Back to Duty

K55: The ethical challenges associated with providing patient care within the current dental healthcare systems. Back to Duty

K56: The principles and limitations of the currently available options for funding of dental healthcare provision for individual patients. Back to Duty

K57: The management of resources in provision of care decisions including appropriate use of primary and secondary care networks. Back to Duty

K58: The importance of collaboration across the health and social care sector for the benefit of communities and individual patients. Back to Duty

K59: The barriers and challenges which prevent sections of the population accessing oral healthcare, including patients from marginalised populations and patients with protected characteristics. Back to Duty

K60: The main principles relating to sustainable oral health care, both environmentally and in terms of patient compliance, and the factors that might affect implementing a sustainable approach. Back to Duty

K61: The term insight in the context of professional practice. Back to Duty

K62: Why insight is important in ensuring safe and effective patient care, and to personal development. Back to Duty

K63: The principles of an evidence-based approach. Back to Duty

K64: Models for self-reflection and how this process can be used to inform personal development, viewpoint, preconceptions, bias and behaviour. Back to Duty

K65: The importance of assessment, feedback, critical reflection, identification of learning needs and appraisal in personal development planning. Back to Duty

K66: The importance of and requirement for commitment to lifelong learning. Back to Duty

K67: The principles of personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice. Back to Duty

K68: Strategies to identify and manage the personal and emotional challenges of work, teamwork and workload. Back to Duty

K69: Opportunities for improvement of a clinical service or to manage and or mitigate risks. Back to Duty

K70: Ways to self-monitor, self-care and routes of seeking appropriate advice in terms of personal wellbeing. Back to Duty

K71: Strategies to identify and manage the personal and emotional challenges of uncertainty and change. Back to Duty

K72: The role of coping strategies for practice, such as reflection, self-acceptance, debriefing, handing over to another colleague, peer support and asking for help in responding to challenges and setbacks. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Identify relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy, recognising the diversity of anatomy across the patient population. Back to Duty

S2: Evaluate the health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health. Back to Duty

S3: Evaluate the scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and Biomaterials, their limitations and selection, with emphasis on those used in dentistry. Back to Duty

S4: Identify the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma, explain local and national systems that safeguard the welfare of children and adults. Back to Duty

S5: Identify the signs of normal and abnormal facial growth, physical, mental and dental development milestones and explain their significance. Back to Duty

S6: Assess patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in respect of dental care and oral health. Back to Duty

S7: Contribute to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures. Back to Duty

S8: Undertake orthodontic assessment. Back to Duty

S9: Obtain valid consent from patients explaining all the relevant factors and taking into account the legal requirements where appropriate within scope of practice. Back to Duty

S10: Record an accurate and contemporaneous patient history. Back to Duty

S11: Accurately record dental charting as carried out by other appropriate registrants. Back to Duty

S12: Accurately record an oral health assessment. Back to Duty

S13: Prepare records, images, equipment and materials for clinical assessment. Back to Duty

S14: Process and manage dental radiographs and images. Back to Duty

S15: Manage patient anxiety appropriately, effectively, and safely. Back to Duty

S16: Monitor, support and reassure patients through effective communication and behavioural techniques. Back to Duty

S17: Identify changes in the patient’s reported oral health status and take appropriate action. Back to Duty

S18: Make arrangements for follow-up care as prescribed by the operator. Back to Duty

S19: Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment. Back to Duty

S20: Prepare, mix and handle dental materials. Back to Duty

S21: Identify and explain the risks within and around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and effective manner. Back to Duty

S22: Implement, perform, and manage effective decontamination and infection control procedures according to current guidelines. Back to Duty

S23: Prepare and maintain the clinical environment including the instruments and equipment. Back to Duty

S24: Identify, assess, and manage medical emergencies. Back to Duty

S25: Provide patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice, instruction, and intervention in a manner which is accessible, promotes self-care and motivates patients/carers to comply with advice and take responsibility to maintain and improve oral health. Back to Duty

S26: Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions ensuring involvement of appropriate dental team members. Back to Duty

S27: Adopt an evidence-based approach to clinical practice. Back to Duty

S28: Communicate effectively and sensitively, tailoring to context, by spoken, written and or electronic means with all patients, including patients whose first language is not English, using representatives or interpreters where necessary, in relation to patients with anxious or challenging behaviour or special considerations such as emotional trauma and difficult circumstances, such as breaking bad news, or discussing issues such as alcohol consumption, smoking, or diet. Back to Duty

S29: Communicate effectively and sensitively by spoken, written and electronic means with the public. Back to Duty

S30: Communicate effectively by spoken, written and electronic means with colleagues from dental and other healthcare professions in relation to the direct care of individual patients, oral health promotion and raising concerns when problems arise, including where patients cause distress to staff. Back to Duty

S31: Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records in accordance with legal requirements and best practice. Back to Duty

S32: Communicate with care, compassion, empathy and respect in all professional interactions with patients, their representatives, the public and colleagues. Back to Duty

S33: Communicate appropriately and effectively in professional discussions and transactions. Back to Duty

S34: Give feedback effectively to other members of the team. Back to Duty

S35: Respect the roles of dental and other healthcare professionals in the context of learning and working in a dental and wider healthcare team. Back to Duty

S36: Demonstrate effective team working. Back to Duty

S37: Contribute to your team in providing dental care for patients. Back to Duty

S38: Where appropriate manage, refer or delegate work according to the scope of practice of members of the dental team, in line with competence and professional practice. Back to Duty

S39: Take a patient-centred approach to working with the dental and wider healthcare team. Back to Duty

S40: Raise concerns where appropriate about your own or others’ health, behaviour or professional performance. Back to Duty

S41: Comply with systems and processes to support safe patient care. Back to Duty

S42: Act in accordance with current best practice guidelines. Back to Duty

S43: Act in accordance with national and local clinical governance and health and safety requirements. Back to Duty

S44: Act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, the delivery of healthcare and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients. Back to Duty

S45: 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. Back to Duty

S46: Demonstrate personal accountability to patients, the regulator, the team and wider community. Back to Duty

S47: 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. Back to Duty

S48: Where appropriate lead, manage and take professional responsibility for the actions of colleagues and other members of the team involved in patient care. Back to Duty

S49: Where appropriate support patients to negotiate the barriers and challenges which prevent sections of the population accessing oral healthcare, including patients from marginalised populations and patients with protected characteristics. Back to Duty

S50: Treat your patients, members of the public and your colleagues with dignity and respect and without discrimination. Back to Duty

S51: Support patients to make informed decisions about their care, making their interests your first concern. Back to Duty

S52: Demonstrate cultural competence, accepting and respecting the diversity of patients and colleagues. Back to Duty

S53: Provide the best possible outcome for your patients by using your knowledge and skills, acting as an advocate for their needs where appropriate. Back to Duty

S54: Speak up to protect others from harm. Back to Duty

S55: Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention at a community and or population level. Back to Duty

S56: Proactively address discriminatory language, behaviour and microaggressions from colleagues, patients and other professionals. Back to Duty

S57: Evaluate the role of health promotion in terms of the changing environment, community and individual behaviours to deliver health gain. Back to Duty

S58: Evaluate and apply the evidence base in relation to the environmental impacts of common treatment methods and approaches to the delivery of oral healthcare. Back to Duty

S59: Contribute positively to the healthcare communities of which you are a part. Back to Duty

S60: Evaluate an evidence base. Back to Duty

S61: Utilise the receipt of effective feedback in the professional development of self. Back to Duty

S62: Demonstrate personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice. Back to Duty

S63: Evaluate the impact of new techniques and technologies as they relate to dental nurse practice. Back to Duty

S64: Accurately assess your own capabilities and limitations in the interest of high-quality patient care and seek advice from supervisors or colleagues where appropriate. Back to Duty

S65: Recognise personal assumptions, biases and prejudices and manage the impact of these on patient care and professional behaviour with colleagues, patients and wider society. Back to Duty

S66: Recognise the impact of contextual factors on the health care environment and patient safety and manage this professionally. Back to Duty

S67: Demonstrate own professional responsibility in the development of self. Back to Duty

S68: Develop and maintain professional knowledge and competence. Back to Duty

S69: Demonstrate engagement with systems and personal strategies which promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing. Back to Duty

S70: Demonstrate appropriate continuous improvement activities. Back to Duty

S71: Recognise when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised to a point of affecting an individual’s role or professional relationships. Back to Duty

S72: Effectively manage your own time and resources. Back to Duty

S73: 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. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Compassionate professional behaviour and professional responsibilities making sure the fundamental needs of patients and carers are addressed. Back to Duty

B2: Act with integrity, be polite, considerate, trustworthy, conscientious and honest. Back to Duty

B3: Take personal and professional responsibility for their actions. Back to Duty

B4: Manage time and prioritise effectively. Back to Duty

B5: Be open and honest in their interactions with patients, carers, colleagues and employers when things go wrong, known as the professional duty of candour. Back to Duty

B6: Respect patients’ wishes about whether they wish to participate in the education of learners. Back to Duty

B7: Uphold the General Dental Council Standards for The Dental Team (2013). Back to Duty

B8: Willingness to learn, and be proactive in progressing in your own development. Back to Duty