Reference/Features

Teaching a fellow dental nurse

6 mins read Leadership/team working
Teaching in the surgery, also referred to as ‘chairside teaching’ is a complex situation. Working in practice as a dental hygienist and therapist I am often involved with the chairside teaching of dental nurses. Trainees will be placed with me to learn the basics of a surgery environment and gain speed and skills before working with a dentist. It is often the case that other dental nurses are involved in their training too, this is important for team dynamic and making the new trainee feel part of the profession. There is the external course that offers a dental nursing qualification that offer opportunities to support this academic dimension of their learning.

We should be sure that the educator is the right person for this surgery teaching role. Dental nurses prefer being taught by other nurses (Mckie et al, 2010). This could be due to hierarchy, or the intimidation of the whole environment, or simply a reflection of a community of practice they may already feel established in.

Motivation for dental nurses to join the profession varies. Sembawa, Wanyonyi and Gallagher, (2014) found dental nurses join for career progression to a dental hygienist and renumeration were key motivators. Understanding this helps us as educators to support and build rapport (Anderman, Andrzejewski and Allen, 2011). It would be beneficial if the roles within the practice for the teaching of the new trainee is clear to the learner and have the patient at its centre. We are educating our learner for both professional and personal development and we are also making sure they are safe for our patients.

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