Dental nurse Review

My role as a dental nurse is to assist with the day to day running of a dental practice, both in the surgery and at the front of house. I welcome patients into the practice and play a large part in the upkeep and maintenance of the clinical environment. I work closely with the dentists in providing dental care and treatments, whilst directly supporting every patient to ensure they feel the most at ease.

Yes I have developed many existing skills. Communication is key to my role as I am part of a team who each play a vital part in the patient's experience and the smooth running of the practice. I have developed new skills in dental nursing in a practical sense and understand how to perform my role in the dental team.

I enjoy my programme a lot, particularly because it is very practical based. I enjoy learning on the job and I have a great support team around me. I enjoy less the written parts of the pragramme but I understand that this is just a part of it which I must comply with in order to pass my apprenticeship.

It is organised in the sense that there are a number of different units to study and complete a workbook for, in addition to 4 multiple exam tests and a variety of different observations to be done. However, there is a lack of organisation surrounding the time spent with your tutor as most of this is scheduled as online face to face sessions as and when you and your tutor are both free and sometimes this can leave gaps in your learning.

My employer is very supportive towards my learning. I have been allocated time within my on the job work time for me to revise when I have had an upcoming exam. My manager is also happy for me to take time out of my on the job hours to attend any sessions with my tutor.

My tutor for the programme is so so supportive towards me and my learning. She is always asking how I am getting on and if I need any further help. If I have difficulty with something I know I can send her an email and she will respond straight away.

The qualification that my training provider offers is directly linked to my role as a dental nurse. In order to be employed as a dental nurse you should have this qualification. It will open up many avenues for me if I wish to go further in this career path as many further courses require this qualification as a pre-requisite.

There are a number of social activities for me to get involved in. For example an online 'Bingo' night was held recently over zoom for the entire company. Also, as a team we usually go out for dinner once a month (before Covid restrictions came in). We also celebrate our birthdays with lots of food!

Yes

Dental Partners are very supportive towards those that want to learn. Most of the time they will cover the cost of your course as long as you stay loyal and continue to work for them for a while afterwards. They will also provide you with ways to continually develop and to progress further in the company if you wish to.

I would advise others to really consider what skills they already have and especially whether they can work well in a team. Teamwork is a key skill in this role and you must be able to work well with all kinds of personalities. You must be willing to learn on the spot also.