Disclaimer: This article was originally published in The Dental Nursing Journal for the April 2021 issue. All credits go to the Dental Nursing Journal and editor, Julie Maria Bissett – who interviewed Farah. iCare Dental Nurses have posted this as a blog so viewers can have access to read it.
Dental nursing doesn’t always get the praise it deserves. Here, Farah Saleem assesses the landscape to reset your parameters and guide you on a rewarding journey.
Dental nurses are an integral part of any practice but are often under-appreciated, with low rates of pay and a lack of connection with colleagues or other organisations. As a dental nurse and founder of iCare Dental Nurses, I can make a change by introducing new people to a career about which I am very passionate about, and work with organisations that will help change the educational banding system to allow dental nurses to be recognised as an integral part of dentistry.
There are 58,898 dental nurses registered in the UK, each one vital and completely indispensable. In our experience, we have encountered many a dental nurse with generalised anxieties within their role, especially in the current climate.
General anxieties are usually concerned with not receiving support from dental practices and dental nursing pay. It may be easy to forget or dismiss the opportunities available to us, or perhaps not feel we have the support or resources to progress. It is one of our focuses as a training academy to educate our students and give them confidence in knowing the options available to them.
I am sure most dental nurses have been asked what it is they exactly do. Use the moments as opportunities to teach others about the role and the responsibilities that come with it. From the friendly smile that greets patients at reception, to offering words of encouragement and support through what feels like the most difficult of times, or just a simple ‘hello’ as we continue on with our day, a dental nurse is so much more than ‘the one who sucks all the water up’ or ‘helps the dentist’.
There is so much depth and skill involved in making sure we protect those soft tissues without pulling too hard, but just enough for visibility or access. Our brains continuously tick to make sure we pass whatever instrument or material is needed without the clinician having to ask.
One of our aims building our dental nurse academy is to educate dental staff about the misinterpretations, especially when it comes to dental nurses struggling within dental practices. Many qualified dental nurses are stuck in practices unable to reach the goals, and this has led to a lot of talk about the nature of the dental nursing team in dentistry. As a dental academy, we want to educate those who are already in the sector and show them the many paths to success within the profession.
The future for dental nurses is exciting in our interpretation. There has been an increase demand in dental nursing. If anything, the current climate has taught is that dental nurses are key workers, are driven by patient care and can succeed in pursuing a successful career with the right support.
We believe it is so important to be a member of a professional body. Not only do you become part of a community, but it is also great for guidance and networking resources, whilst receiving the support of others in your profession. Being part of a professional body really shows your commitment to developing your career with the element that it adds to your credibility. So, if you haven’t already, make sure it is stated on your curriculum vitaes.
6 key tips for a dental nurse looking to develop a career
1. Experience.
Gain as much experience in your field as you can – whether it’s a long-term position, as a locum or even volunteer work overseas. Gain life experience, too. Establishing yourself as a person will reflect on how you perform at work and how you deal with everyday situations.
2. Research.
Pursue your interests and identify what roles work best for you. Enable those skills and experience specific to your goals.
3. Motivation and Drive.
You are the only person who is significant when it comes to your career progression, you have to prepare yourself for the hard work involved and be willing to commit if you want to achieve your goals.
4. Networking.
Sometimes it’s not just only about what you know, it’s who you know. Reach out as much as possible. The dental world is very small and word of mouth can be a great way to expose yourself to opportunities.
5. Team Work.
Team work within your Dental practice is key. Working with one another and together will allow you understand the motivation of the practice. Engage with practice managers and principle dentists in views you have and changes that could benefit you all. Building your team together will motivate everyone to work together and thrive.
6. Post Qualifications.
As an academy, we thrive on pushing our students to do post qualifications set by the NEBDN. This allow qualified nurses to develop careers and keeps them motivated in the areas they really enjoy and want to succeed in for the future. Focus on the areas you are interested in dentistry and look into a specific area that drives you – this will help you to work towards goals and allow you to pursue pathways that will build the career you desire.
A Little About Me
I qualified in 2013, after completing the National Diploma in Dental Nursing, whilst I was working as a dental receptionist.
After working as a dental nurse for three years at Rusholme Dental Practice, I successfully applied for a senior management role at Parkhouse Dental Practice, where I remained for six months. During my time at Parkhouse, I completed a sedation training course with SAAD, which allowed me to expand and further my skills as a dental nurse.
Working at Parkhouse Dental Practice exposed me to the daily running and management of dental practices and what is involved in the running of a successful business.
In 2015, I decided to leave my position as senior manager and began working as a locum dental nurse. In my four years working for Helping Hands Dental Nurse Agency, I worked across Greater Manchester and also travelled to Jersey to nurse.
During this time, I was approached by a fellow dental nurse, who was in the process of setting up a course teaching the National Diploma in Dental Nursing and asked me to join as a dental tutor. I completed the ALISON (Advanced Learning Interactive Systems Online), obtaining a diploma in teaching skills for educators. I was only with this Dental Training School for a short time, but it was during this time I decided I would like to open a training academy teaching myself to teach the next generation of dental nurses.
iCare Dental Nurses was founded in 2018 and I enjoy teaching students in a classroom environment, which is not something widely offered in the north west of England. I also wanted to expose the dental nursing role to people who may not have considered this as a career, largely due to the lack of classroom courses available. I use my experience as a dental nurse when teaching my students, hoping they will enjoy working as a dental nurse as much as I do and thrive to become a valued member of the practices and communities where they work.