Job Description

Band 4/5 dental nurse. Exciting opportunity for an experienced dental nurse to further their dental career joining a friendly, highly skilled team in a multi disciplinary setting. The successful applicant will nurse in all disciplines within the department and work across both Trust sites where necessary. Dependant on experience and post qualifications, conducting Nurse led clinics in radiography and Orthodontic Oral Health Education . Applicant should be highly motivated with a passion for personal and team development. Experience of both surgical procedures and Orthodontics desired and excellent chair side nursing skills. The delivery of a high standard of patient care and team work in line with our trust values will be expected.



Pre and post clinic set up - cleaning/instrument & equipment preparation/paperwork



Support clinic manager and team with daily running of the department



Liaise with other departments/laboratory/GDP/GP



Report all issues to Clinic manager/Matron



Provision of high standard of pre and post op care



Provision of high standard of nursing skills



Manage complex medical and physical conditions of patients



Asses patients needs delivering approved programmes of care



Professional development, and Trust training maintained



Support and promote dental and health education to patients



Precise and timely records of patient care



Excellent communication with patients and staff



Safeguarding Children and Adults



Awareness and observe Trust policies



Nurse led clinics (experience dependant)



Attend training



University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.



All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.



UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.



At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.



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