Optimising progression

Objectives

GDC development outcome B and D

Regulation and the developing role of dental nurses

The General Dental Council’s Standards for the Dental Team standard 7.2 states, “You must work within your knowledge, skills, professional competence and abilities.” Standard 7.2.1 states, “You must only carry out a task or a treatment if you are appropriately trained, competent, confident and indemnified.”¹

The role of all dental nurses in all dental sectors is continually evolving. The GDC’s scope of practice guidance provides a development framework for dental nurses to contribute to patient care.² To optimise professional progression, enhanced continuous professional development (eCPD) and other development activities must prepare dental nurses to go beyond the technical skills needed to perform extended duties and include the core professionalism qualities essential for dental education for all GDC registrant groups. This article considers a pre-emptive approach for dental nurses with extended scope of practice duties. Dental care professionals need to find ways to select relevant CPD, and to include networking and peer review to ensure their investment in their ongoing professional development adds to their confidence and competence, and their ability to work collaboratively as a dental professional.