Job responsibilities
Report departmental issuesAttend regular staff meetingsDevelop good communications. Fair and clear relationships with staff cross the multi-disciplinary teamCommunicate with all grades of staff regarding patient care. To provide and receive complex or sensitive information relating to planned or received treatmentLiaise between clinician, technician, patient and external agencies to arrange appropriate appointmentsEffectively communicate with patients and relatives. Deliver information in a way that is easily understood e.g. delivering pre and postoperative instructions and advice. This is essential where there are barriers to communication e.g. patients whose first language is not English, nervous, aggressive or poorly patients, patients with language or learning difficulties or disabilities. In these cases, further liaison with the translation services, parents or carers are imperativeProvide reassurance and show empathy to patients in situations which are frequently stressful
Motivate patients to ensure compliance with complex and frequently lengthy courses of treatmentExplain dental procedures to patients and answer any queries the patients may have regarding their treatmentReceive information regarding patients conditions always ensuring confidentiality
Participate in the development and maintenance of programmes of care in line with Policies and ProceduresProvide a continuing high standard of nursing care through direct clinical practice in relation to the groups of patients cared for by the departmentThe post holder must hold the national certificate in dental nursing or equivalent NVQ3 in dental nursing and be registered with the GDCFor band 5 eligibility the post holder must have a minimum of 2 years dental nursing experience in a hospital/community setting and 2 post registered qualifications, one in Dental Radiography and one in Oral Health EducationIn line with Trust policies further training in conflict and resolution, fire safety, basic life support, Safeguarding, Oliver McGowan, manual handling, infection control, health and safety, risk assessment and COSHH is undertakenAchieve the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) requirements of the postBe prepared to undertake any formal or informal training required tofulfil the needs of the post, this includes selfstudy
Extensive knowledge of Complex Orthodontics, Oral Medicine and Oral Maxillofacial SurgeryMany patients attending the hospital for care have been referred because of difficult /unstable medical conditions, the senior dental nurse is required to assist in the management of these patients and be able to respond appropriately to emergencies arising because of the patient's conditionAct as a resource to other areas providing education and advice relevant to the speciality as requiredKeep abreast of clinical developmentUnder the supervision of the Clinic Manager educate and assist in the training of all staff groups in the effective use of equipment, maintaining up to date records of attendanceTake every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competenceParticipate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development planTo actively participate in the education, training and assessing of all members of the nursing team, visiting students, patients and their carersUnder the supervision of the Clinic Manager assist in the development of enhanced/advanced nursing specific to the speciality, developing own clinical skills as necessary
Analytical & Judgemental SkillsAnticipate the needs of members of staff and prepare all surgeries and instruments appropriately for complex dental proceduresMonitored patients' throughout their visit, observed for any changes, and respond to medical emergenciesAnalyse the working area regarding the security of the equipment stored there and assess if extra precautions are neededUse their own judgment regarding health and safety to assess the working area and report any hazards immediatelyDiagnose equipment faults and liaise with engineering staff to ensure that repairs are undertaken quickly. Contingency arrangements must be made immediately to ensure that patient treatment can proceed as plannedUnderstand the principles and importance of quality control and quality assurance and the use of appropriate measures
Planning & Organisational Skills
Manage own day-to-day activities such as planning and organising clinics, joint appointments with other departments and hospitalsPlan and organising multi-disciplinary activities with other professions and agenciesManage busy clinics, liaise with patients and staff and communicate any delaysLiaise with the laboratory regarding timescales for appliances to becompleted. Arrangepatient appointments accordinglyPlan in advance to ensure all results, medical records and instruments required are available for each sessionOrganise workload making allowances for frequent telephone interruptions to deal with patient enquiries and unplanned clinician led alterations to planned treatment which may prevent the completion of planned workMaintain adequate supplies, ensuring their efficient and effective useCheck clinics at the beginning of each session so that stock levels of materials and equipment are maintainedEnsure all equipment is in safe working order and regularly checked and maintained
Physical Skills
Manipulate a wide range of dental materialsHandle, transfer, assemble and dismantle all types of dental equipment during patients treatment. This may be in a close support environment, which will require long periods sitting or standing in a confined position while assisting at chair-sidePrepare surgical instrument kits and equipment using an aseptic techniqueDevelop physical skills over a period of time and through relevant experience e.g. the use of some fine tools and dental equipmentAssisting surgeon in theatre for general anaesthetic and intravenous sedation patients. Demands lengthy times of concentration, standing and static and precise instrument placementsAdvanced skills are required for sensory hand eye coordination when assisting during fourhanded dentistry as this involves the safe exchange and handling of dental instrumentsBe required to manoeuvre patients in confined spaces using wheelchairs, trolleys and hoists
Responsibility for Patient Care
Clinical verbal advice to patients, carers/relatives, i.e. pre/post-operative instructions. These require personalisation for each patient's unique situation/conditionContinuous monitoring of patients throughout their dental treatment, and afterwards where appropriate, e.g. difficult proceduresCare and reassurance to the patients during treatment, ensuring they are comfortable and informed throughoutManage medical and physical conditions of patients if kept in the department for an unexpected length of timeClinical advice to patients/carers/relatives either in person or, over the telephone . They will also be available to answer patient's questions regarding their treatment/care planTracing and digitising lateral ceph radiographs for assessment and planning
Conduct nurse led clinics in oral health education, radiography CBCT,suture removal and wound dressingsConduct nurse led clinics under supervision whilst attaining or working towards attaining band 5 level (see job specs)Educating patient/carers, for example in oral health and teaching and offering advice regarding patient specific symptoms i.e. management of TMJParticipate in the oral examination for identification purposes of deceased persons at the mortuaryResponsible for organising patient appointments, where necessary liaise with wards and other departments to ensure good quality patient care. Ensure patients are safely and appropriately discharged and the clinical areas are secured, including the safe storage of emergency drugsWork at both Trust sites where necessary to provide a continued and improved service provision to patientAdhere to all Trust policies e.g. cross infection control, risk assessments, health and safety, data security & protection COSHH, reporting accidents/incidents etc. The post holder may be asked to contribute to hospital polices when necessaryObserve the hospital Control of Infection policy and follow strict guidelines regarding sterilisation of instruments and equipment. Dealing with decontamination, waste and spillages correctly according to C.O.S.H.H regulationsUnderstand the need to ensure physical, and radiation protection of all individuals in the immediate work environment at all times. Following IRMER, IRR regulationsFollow agreed Trust policies and attend training sessions as required regarding manual handling fire safety, safeguarding, basic life support etcProvide written information for patients and carers in line with Trust policiesIn conjunction with the clinic manager and clinical team work to ensure that guidelines of clinical practice and standards of care are developed, implemented and audited to maintain the highest standardMaintain custody of drugs, checking and witnessing the administration of drugs according to Trust policyParticipate in and contribute to the effective implementation of clinic risk management within all clinic areasFollow prescribed treatment plan of wound and dressing management in accordance with tissue viability policiesOn attaining or working towards attaining band 5 level (see job specs) assess, develop and implement radiography procedures, according to IR(ME)R and IRR regulations and Trust policies i.e. Identification, justification
