Detailed Analysis: Dental Nurse Regulatory and Ethical Requirements

This report comprehensively examines the legal and regulatory requirements for dental nurses, covering key aspects such as registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) and adherence to guidelines set by organizations like the Australian Dental Association (ADA). It details the importance of the Data Protection Act 1998, Department of Health guidelines, and social media policies. The report also explores ethical and professional guidance, emphasizing patient-centered care, confidentiality, and cooperation within the dental team. Additionally, it outlines methods for providing support and feedback to patients, team members, and carers, ensuring effective communication and high-quality patient care. The report underscores the significance of maintaining professional competence and acting in the best interests of patients, promoting safe and effective dental practices.

WORK WITHIN
REGULATORY
REQUIREMENTS IN
RELATION TO THE ROLE OF
A DENTAL NURSE

Table of Contents
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Legal and regulatory requirements in dental nursing and practices.................................1
1.2 Guidelines followed by a dental nurse.............................................................................1
1.3 Ethical and professional guidance....................................................................................2
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................2
2.1 and 2.2 Support and feedback for key people and individuals.........................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

Task 1
1.1 Legal and regulatory requirements in dental nursing and practices
A dental nurse is able to work in each and every branch within density that includes
hospital an community services, general dental practice and in the armed forces. The General
dentist councils is an organisation which is responsible for regulating dental professionals. It is a
basic legal requirement that all dental nurses, dental technicians, dental hygienists, therapists and
dentists needs to be registered with the General dentist councils in order to perform dental
services (Sauver and et.al., 2017). In Australia, The Australian Dental Association(ADA) is the
organisation that regulates the policies and code of practices elated to dental services. ADA is
supporting restrictions that make sure the advertising of health services which reflects the status
and calibre of health professionals. There are various policies such as section 3.15 Closing or
relocating a practice that involves giving advance notice where possible and facilitating
arrangements for the continuous care of all current patients. Section 8.4 Health records which
states that it is important to maintain accurate and clear health records for the continuing good
care of clients or patients (Heyman and et.al., 2018).
1.2 Guidelines followed by a dental nurse
1. Data protection act 1998 – This act is important for dental professionals, it is designed to
protect personal data or information related to patients.
2. Department of health guidelines and regulations – This department develops and control
the policies and guidelines to improve the dental practices, these policies are essential to
be followed by each and every dental practitioner.
3. Social media – These guidelines or policies are amended for recognising social media as
a non-traditional form of advertising with limited control over a person's ability to
regulate content relate to dental practitioners or the services offered by them.
4. Care quality commission – This is a non-departmental public body that monitor, inspect
and regulate health and social care services. They publish the results that represent the
quality of services provided by a health care professional (Wassif and D'Cruz, 2017).
5. Direct impact of direct access on each registrants groups - In 2013 the GDC removed its
obstacle to Direct Access for some dental care professionals after considering the
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influence on safety of the patient. This guideline ensure that patient needs to observed by
a doctor before any other dental team member treat him or her.
6. It is important to discuss options of treatment with patients and listen carefully to what
they say. Giving them opportunity to ask questions and have discussion.
7. Nurses focus on treating patients with compassion and kindness.
8. Nurses must manage dental pain and anxiety of the patients appropriately.
9. It is important to consider holistic approach to take care of patients overall health, their
social and psychological needs, their desired outcomes and long term oral health.
10. A dental nurse is providing treatment to patients with their best interests, give proper oral
health advice and follows clinical guidelines with regards to the situation.
1.3 Ethical and professional guidance
There are six main principles for dental professional as mentioned below -
1. Putting interests of the patients' first and acting to protect them
2. Respecting dignity and choices of the patients
3. Protecting confidentiality of information relate to patients
4. Co-operating with other dental team members in the interests of patients
5. Maintaining self professional competence and knowledge
6. Being trustworthy
All the above standards are related to competent, effective and safe practice as the
standards focuses on co-operation which also helps while working in team. The standards
consider patient centred way through giving important to patient's interests and choices related to
the dental services. These standards helps a dental nurse or practitioner to develop his or her own
skills and knowledge related to dental practices (Singh, 2017).Therefore, they can provide
effective and safe treatment to their patients.
TASK 2
2.1 and 2.2 Support and feedback for key people and individuals
Key people How to provide active support How to provide feedback
Patients Greeting patients and giving advice Feedback forms or feedback
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letter
Team members Appropriate distribution of tasks and
activities , effective communication as
well as helping other team members
through proper guidance (Holden, 2018).
Email and staff meetings
Carers Providing resources and information
related to patients.
Seminars and business
meetings
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Sauver, J.L.S. and et.al., 2017. Linking medical and dental health record data: a partnership with
the Rochester Epidemiology Project. BMJ open, 7(3), p.e012528.
Heyman, R.E. and et.al., 2018. Dentist-perceived barriers and attractors to cognitive-behavioral
treatment provided by mental health providers in dental practices. Advances in dental
research, 29(1), pp.35-41.
Wassif, H.S. and D'Cruz, L., 2017. How the vision of a clinician and an educator brought the
MA Dental Law and Ethics course to life. British dental journal, 223(6), p.447.
Singh, P., 2017. Law and ethics: Out of context. British dental journal, 222(2), p.69.
Holden, A., 2018. What do dental codes of ethics and conduct suggest about attitudes to raising
concerns and self-regulation?. British dental journal, 224(4), p.261.
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