Dental Nurse Review

Item: Dental Nurse at NHS
Rating: 4.4
Author: Anonymous

at NHS

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Science

Southampton

Review Submitted: March 2022

Overall Rating

4.4 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

5/5 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

4/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

5/5

I am a fully qualified dental nurse which is what I am employed as by Solent. When they offered me my current position I was already on the OHP apprenticeship. My extra duties that Solent have fully supported me in include seeing patients as a clinician proving oral health advice, tooth brushing instructions, applying topical fluoride and disclosing teeth.

To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

5/5

I have really enjoyed being part of this pilot apprenticeship to become an oral health practitioner. I have enjoyed it more since I have been employed by Solent rather than my previous employer as they have supported me with the at work experience and also study days to complete my assignments.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

5/5

New skills are I am now able to apply topical Fluoride, disclose teeth and take dental impressions. I have developed existing skills in delivering oral health information to patients and giving presentations. I now have the confidence to discuss oral health, diet, smoking and alcohol consumption with patients so that they can see the links between systemic and oral health and how they can if they wish make changes to improve both.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?

3/5

As I am on the pilot programme there have been areas where organisation was not always the best. I believe that there have been lessons learnt by the provider HEE that will make the subsequent courses much easier to follow as sometimes there has not always been enough support or information but this is to be expected from a pilot course.

How much support do you receive from your employer?

5/5

When I started my apprenticeship I was employed by a corporate dental company and I received no support at all. Since joining Solent I was amazed at how much support they wanted to offer me. I have monthly wellbeing meetings with my clinical lead as well as 6-8 weekly reviews with the apprenticeship team.

How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

3/5

The support I have received from the training provider could have been better but I believe that lessons have been learnt for future cohorts of students. There have been problems with emails not being replied too and also with some of the support staff having too many other commitments to focus as much energy as was sometimes needed.

How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

5/5

I feel that what I have learnt and how I have developed during my time on the apprenticeship have changed how I am as a practitioner in my own right rather than just assisting the dentist. I have much more confidence in my abilities and want to take on more responsibilities and continue to further my progression and knowledge.

Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

4/5

We receive a daily update on what is happening that specific day. Since Covid everything is online and there are numerous coffee mornings, forums, training courses and exercise classes that you can partake in. There are also groups such as the LGBT+ support group. For international women's day and for black history month there was events organised tailored to these topics.