Keeping record

Record keeping and the role of the dental nurse

When we think of record keeping, we immediately think of notes being typed, that will be checked and signed by the clinician. As dental professionals, the dental nurse’s role is far more important in record keeping. Being a dental nurse is paramount to my work as a dental hygienist. Without my nurse undertaking key elements of my record keeping, I would have less time with my patient, likely less thorough notes and undoubtedly be more frustrated when trying to record pocket depths. All my working career I have been an advocate for hygienists and therapists needing chairside support. For the nurse, this may not be a glorious role, it may even at times be mundane, but the difference regarding patient care is immense. There is a strong element of patient care and clinician safety, the role of the chaperone and of course, record keeping. Boynton (2019) raises the point that the vulnerability in our record keeping, “might depend on the extent to which the dental professional is multitasking, fatigued, or running late”, and having chairside support may alleviate this.