If you have been considering a career as a Dental Nurse, you might be wondering what key skills you need. Dental nursing is a very accessible course with minimal qualifications needed. Dental Nurse course requirements vary between study programmes but usually, the only requirements are good spoken English and the equivalent of 2 GCSEs (C grade or above) in English Language and Maths.
This has you covered from an academic perspective, but you might still wonder, ‘Do I have what it takes to be a Dental Nurse?’ To help you decide, we look at the top skills of a great Dental Nurse.
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A Good Team Player
Dental nursing is a fast-paced career where no two days are alike, and you will be working closely with your team. The ability to work well with others is essential for patient care and a good working environment, and so is a must-have skill of a good Dental Nurse. Every member of the dental team will have specific duties but in a dental practice no one is an island, and you will find yourself supporting your teammates and working collaboratively throughout the day.
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Empathy
53% of the UK population suffers from fear or anxiety when visiting the Dentist and an empathetic Dental Nurse can make all the difference to patient care. Often patients who are anxious and worried will feel intimidated by the Dentist and communication can be a challenge. This is where a good Dental Nurse comes in. Whilst Dentists can be intimidating to an anxious patient, Dental Nurses provide a more reassuring presence. Knowing someone is there to hold your hand and listen to your concerns makes a huge difference to a patient’s well-being. A Dental Nurse has a vital role to play in supporting patients to make positive changes in their oral health regime.
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Organisation
There are so many jobs for Dental Nurses throughout the day that the ability to stay organised and multitask is a must! A great Dental Nurse will be able to anticipate what might be required in practice throughout the day and making sure everything is in the right place can make the day run more smoothly for everyone.
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Great Communication Skills
As a Dental Nurse, you will be talking to patients, suppliers, Managers, and Dentists throughout the day. Clear communications are essential to be a great Dental Nurse. If you are having a busy day in the clinic, letting your team know so that they can assist with decontamination etc will make the day run more smoothly. Likewise, when you are speaking to patients clear communication about their oral health is essential to empower them to be able to make positive changes.
Do you think you could be an exceptional Dental Nurse? Find out more about the learndirect NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing here.
The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma n Dental Nursing
The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing is a General Dental Council (GDC) recognised dental nursing qualification which covers all outcomes in the GDC Scope of Practice
Distance Learning
Becoming a qualified Dental Nurse via a distance learning provider, allows you to study based on your circumstances. You can work your way through your dental nursing course materials as quickly as you’d like. Because all your learning materials are available throughout the course, you can go back and reread them at your leisure.
This is especially useful for revising ahead of your dental nursing assessments.
There are no physical classes to attend, and you don’t have to wait for the start of the term to begin learning. You can just enrol and get going.
Learn with learndirect
learndirect is one of the UK’s leading distance learning providers. Enrolling on our courses provides instant access to your learning material so you can start studying immediately. You will also have access to a dedicated Tutor who will help you through the process.
Click below to sign up for our NCFE CACHE-certified and GDC-approved, Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing. Places are limited so don’t delay!
