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Skills Bootcamp – Introduction to Dental Nursing

This 10 week course is tailored for individuals currently unemployed or those working in the dental sector who want to upskill and pursue a career in dental nursing. It will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to take on new roles and responsibilities in your practice.

Course Information

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  • Course Type Adult - Professional
  • Subject Area Health and Care
  • Qualification Skills Bootcamp
  • Study Mode: Part Time
  • Course Level Level 3
  • Location Hele Road Centre
  • Course Length 10 weeks
  • Start Date 02-Apr-25
  • End Date 18-June-25
  • Fee Funded - free for learners, employers pay a small contribution (eligibility criteria applies)
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Overview

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This Skills Bootcamp provides an exciting opportunity to explore the role of a Dental Nurse. This may be an introductory course for someone wanting to progress to work in a dental practice, an induction for a new employee, or upskilling existing employees to take on new responsibilities in their role. On completion, you could also progress to a Level 3 Dental Nursing apprenticeship.

Each week will be a range of theory and practical skills lessons, taught in our fully equipped dental simulation room. These have been designed to help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to take on some dental nursing responsibilities in a practice and to put you in the pathway to become a fully qualified dental nurse. You will cover topics such as basic dental anatomy and charting, sharps management, infection control, communication, person centred care and managing the patient journey.

Units Content
1 – Intro •         Team building

•         Introduction to the dental team, roles and responsibility

•         Career routes

•         Skills scan

•         Setting SMART targets
2 – Communications

 

 •         Understand the importance of effective communication at work

•         Understand how to meet the communication and language needs, wishes and preferences of individuals

•         Understand how to promote effective communication

•         Understand the principles and practices relating to confidentiality

•         Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication

•         Support the use of appropriate communication aids/ technologies

•         Telephone manner
3 – Duty of Care

 

 

 •         Understand how duty of care contributes to safe practice

•         Understand the support available for addressing dilemmas that may arise about duty of care

•         Deal with comments and complaints

•         Deal with Incidents, errors and near misses

•         Deal with confrontation and difficult situations

•         Introduce professionalism and use of reflection
4 & 5 – Person Centred Care

 

 •         Understand person centred values

•         Understand working in a person-centred way

•         Dental surgery orientation – setting up the dental operating unit, differing instruments, aspiration technique

•         Managing the patient journey , eg from reception to the dental surgery, basic appointment management , (to include types of procedures eg examination, basic restoration appt, crown prep etc)
6 – Infection prevention and control •         Prevent the spread of infection

•         Infection control as applied in the dental setting
7 – Health and Safety

 

 •         Understand own responsibilities, and the responsibilities of others, relating to health and safety in the work setting applied to a dental surgery

•         Understand Risk Assessment

•         Move and assist safely

•         Understand procedures for responding to accidents and sudden illness
8 – Basic Life Support and functional Literacy and Numeracy in working practice

 

 •         Medical emergencies in the dental setting

•         Basic dental anatomy and oral hygiene instruction

•         Basic dental charting (terminology)

•         Sharps management , basic restorative material management differing materials an mixing
9 – Safeguarding Adults and Children

 

 •         Understand the principles of safeguarding adults and children

•         Reduce the likelihood of abuse

•         Respond to suspected or disclosed abuse

•         Protect people from harm and abuse – locally and nationally
10 – Equality and Diversity

 

 •         Understand the importance of equality and inclusion

•         Work in an inclusive way

•         Access information, advice and support about diversity, equality and inclusion

For more information please contact one of our Adult Advisers:
Email: adultadvice@exe-coll.ac.uk
Call: 01392 400170

Entry Requirements

The following entry criteria must be fulfilled:

  • You are 19 years or over
  • You live in Devon or Cornwall
  • You are currently unemployed or employed in a dental practice and your employer supports your application
  • You have the right to work in the UK
  • You have lived in the UK or EU/EAA for the last 3 years or have a residency status that makes you exempt from this rule
  • You have English skills including written/spoken required with Level 1 being the minimum
  • You have not completed another Skills Bootcamp in this current financial year
  • If you are fully employed, your employer will be asked to pay a contribution. If you are part time employed, funding will depend on your circumstances
  • If you are self-employed, you need to show commitment to building your business and provide evidence of a business plan that reflects the knowledge and skills this course has to offer
  • You are committed to participating in delivery sessions for 10 weeks

All applicants will be assessed at interview.

Facilities

This Skills Bootcamp is delivered within our Healthcare Faculty at our Hele Road Site, facilities include:

  • Have a question?

    If you have questions or would like to speak to someone, our team of Customer Service Advisers can help answer your questions or direct your enquiry to the correct team.
    Speak to us today on 01392 400500 or send us a message using our contact form: www.exe-coll.ac.uk/contact.

  • Ready to find out more?

    Why not come along to one of our open events, a chance to explore our facilities, ask questions about our courses and find out more about being a student at Exeter College. Visit our open events page to find out more today.

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