Dental nurses have a pivotal role in modern dentistry and are responsible for carrying out many important and varied tasks in their day to day duties. This includes maintaining high levels of cleanliness and hygiene, taking notes during examinations, the decontamination of instruments, and putting patients at ease in an environment that is commonly associated with anxiety and dread.
With such a varied job role, no two days are ever the same for a dental nurse, which is why CPD will enable you to stand out from the crowd and enhance your skill set in this highly competitive industry.
Importance of CPD for Dental Nurses
Effective dentistry is impossible without competent and thoroughly trained dental nurses, and so it is important to demonstrate to any potential employers and fellow peers that you are one step ahead of the competition. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an ongoing, lifelong process facilitated by self-motivated learning and improving oneself as a professional.
Documenting your development isn’t just building on your dental knowledge and experience, but it also relates to personal qualities such as tact and discretion that are fundamental in the working life of a dental nurse. As well as supporting your dentist, you will be handling confidential patient information, offering advice and caring for people who may be apprehensive.
Individuals that invest time and effort in CPD have a higher opportunity to advance their careers and achieve greater career satisfaction, as they give organisations reassurance that they have the knowledge, skills and tools to meet and maintain higher professional capability. CPD teaches us never to underestimate the power of learning – this assurance that dental nurses are keeping their skills and knowledge up to date will develop a positive industry culture for years to come.
General Dentist Council CPD Requirements for Dental Nurses
The General Dentist Council (GDC) is an organisation that regulates dental care professionals and ensures that these individuals meet the professional standards in order to maintain professional registration. In January 2018, the Council introduced Enhanced CPD for all dentist professionals including dentist nurses. This focused on the recommended processes that dental nurses should follow when carrying out CPD activities – “plan, do, reflect and record.”
Logging your learning in a systematic way will enable you to monitor and illustrate your progress, as well as encourage you to think proactively about your professional requirements and the benefits you have gained from each planned activity. The GDC have also stated that dental nurses have to complete “a minimum of 50 hours of verifiable CPD per five-year cycle, with the requirement of a minimum of 10 hours in any two-year period."
It is the responsibility of all dental nurses to keep up to date with the standards of their industry and is key to maintaining your place on the Dental Care Professional (DCP) register. The outcome offers value for both the individual and their profession. A failure to record CPD and fulfil the learning conditions outlined by the GDC could result in an individual being suspended or losing their job. This is because it goes against the aspirations of the GDC to maintain the professionalism of the industry and preserve public confidence.
