A dental nurse's role in risk management

The GDC's principle number 8, as laid down the Standards for the Dental Team, is potentially all-encompassing, given that risk comes in many forms and exists, to some degree, in all environments. The guidance for the standards that underpin this principle lay heavy emphasis on your acting, and acting promptly, if patients or colleagues are at risk and taking measures to protect them. Not doing so could put your registration at risk.

Let's start by nailing down what risk is. A risk is often confused with a hazard. In any dental practice there are many hazards – everything from stairs to equipment, chemicals, noise and so on. There are also hazards such as incompetence, negligence, bullying, stress, back pain, repetitive strain injury and more. Some hazards, such as trailing cables and poorly maintained equipment, for example, can and should be eliminated. But many hazards will remain.