Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Report departmental issues 

Attend regular staff meetings 

Develop good communications. Fair and clear relationships with staff cross the multi-disciplinary team

Communicate with all grades of staff regarding patient care. To provide and receive complex or sensitive information relating to planned or received treatment

Liaise between clinician, technician, patient and external agencies to arrange appropriate appointments

Effectively 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 imperative

Provide reassurance and show empathy to patients in situations which are frequently stressful

Motivate patients to ensure compliance with complex and frequently lengthy courses of treatment

Explain dental procedures to patients and answer any queries the patients may have regarding their treatment

Receive information regarding patient’s conditions always ensuring confidentiality

Participate in the development and maintenance of programmes of care in line with Policies and Procedures 

Provide a continuing high standard of nursing care through direct clinical practice in relation to the groups of patients cared for by the department 

The post holder must hold the national certificate in dental nursing or equivalent NVQ3 in dental nursing and be registered with the GDC

For 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 Education

In 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 undertaken

Achieve the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) requirements of the post

Be prepared to undertake any formal or informal training required to
fulfil the needs of the post, this includes self study

Extensive knowledge of Complex Orthodontics, Oral Medicine and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

Many 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 condition

Act as a resource to other areas providing education and advice relevant to the speciality as required

Keep abreast of clinical development

Under 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 attendance

Take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence

Participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan

To actively participate in the education, training and assessing of all members of the nursing team, visiting students, patients and their carers

Under 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 Skills

Anticipate the needs of members of staff and prepare all surgeries and instruments appropriately for complex dental procedures

Monitored patients' throughout their visit, observed for any changes, and respond to medical emergencies

Analyse the working area regarding the security of the equipment stored there and assess if extra precautions are needed

Use their own judgment regarding health and safety to assess the working area and report any hazards immediately

Diagnose 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 planned

Understand 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 hospitals

Plan and organising multi-disciplinary activities with other professions and agencies

Manage busy clinics, liaise with patients and staff and communicate any delays

Liaise with the laboratory regarding timescales for appliances to be
completed. Arrange patient appointments accordingly

Plan in advance to ensure all results, medical records and instruments required are available for each session

Organise 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 work

Maintain adequate supplies, ensuring their efficient and effective use

Check clinics at the beginning of each session so that stock levels of materials and equipment are maintained

Ensure all equipment is in safe working order and regularly checked and maintained

Physical Skills

Manipulate a wide range of dental materials

Handle, 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-side

Prepare surgical instrument kits and equipment using an aseptic technique

Develop physical skills over a period of time and through relevant experience e.g. the use of some fine tools and dental equipment

Assisting surgeon in theatre for general anaesthetic and intravenous sedation patients. Demands lengthy times of concentration, standing and static and precise instrument placements

Advanced skills are required for sensory hand eye coordination when assisting during fourhanded dentistry as this involves the safe exchange and handling of dental instruments

Be 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/condition

Continuous monitoring of patients throughout their dental treatment, and afterwards where appropriate, e.g. difficult procedures

Care and reassurance to the patients during treatment, ensuring they are comfortable and informed throughout

Manage medical and physical conditions of patients if kept in the department for an unexpected length of time

Clinical 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 plan

Tracing and digitising lateral ceph radiographs for assessment and planning

Conduct nurse led clinics in oral health education, radiography CBCT,
suture removal and wound dressings

Conduct 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 TMJ

Participate in the oral examination for identification purposes of deceased persons at the mortuary

Responsible 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 drugs

Work at both Trust sites where necessary to provide a continued and improved service provision to patient

Adhere 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 necessary

Observe 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 regulations

Understand the need to ensure physical, and radiation protection of all individuals in the immediate work environment at all times. Following IRMER, IRR regulations

Follow agreed Trust policies and attend training sessions as required regarding manual handling fire safety, safeguarding, basic life support etc

Provide written information for patients and carers in line with Trust policies

In 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 standard

Maintain custody of drugs, checking and witnessing the administration of drugs according to Trust policy

Participate in and contribute to the effective implementation of clinic risk management within all clinic areas

Follow prescribed treatment plan of wound and dressing management in accordance with tissue viability policies

On 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