If you’re a qualified dental nurse with a wealth of experience and natural leadership abilities, then a route to becoming a head dental nurse may be the perfect pathway for you to take.
Qualifications and experience
First and foremost, you will need to have your Level 3 dental nursing diploma, which will have given you qualified status and allowed you to register with the GDC. This qualification provides you with the foundation of knowledge to begin your career, and from this you can gather the right experience to work towards a head nurse position.
You will also need to have obtained substantial experience after qualifying – you can’t just step into a head nurse role until you’ve done the rounds! This means holding a dental nurse position which allows you to work chairside, in infection control, and in decontamination areas to build up and fortify your knowledge. Through this position, it is then good to start working closely with management to try and gain further responsibilities that will prove you would be a suitable head nurse. Examples of this could be taking over the rota, leading infection control checks and procedures, and assisting the manager in administration tasks. The more you work on building up these skills, the more your knowledge and confidence will build. This will encourage your colleagues to see you as a leader.
You may also want to look at taking extra courses to expand your skills, which is always an excellent idea and will look great on your CV when applying for higher positions or promotions. Upskilling will always serve to show your dedication to your role, but also your willingness to learn, develop and grow. Courses such as this accredited Level 3 course can be an excellent addition to your skills and experience, and will make you stand out against other candidates when applying for new roles.
How to apply
When it comes to applying for promotions or new positions which will see you advance into a head nurse role, it’s important to remember the reasons why you are applying. It should be about more than a pay rise (as enthusiasm for the role is more appealing to the employer) and about what you can bring to the table. What examples do you have that prove you are reliable and trustworthy? What skills have you developed in team management, problem solving, and general dental knowledge? Make sure to list your qualifications and further training too, and the ways in which you feel they would be a benefit to the practice, but also emphasise why you would be a good head nurse. Ideally, you will have sound knowledge of HTM 01-05, strong infection control and general dental nursing experience, and you’ll be good with people and a supportive advocate between the team and management.
Is it for you?
The most important part of stepping into a head nurse role is ensuring the position is for you. It is more work, more dedication, and more time-consuming, and you have to be adaptable to change and willing to train and support other team members in their roles with a calm and reassuring manner. If you feel that this is the role for you, then start talking to your current employer to see if there is room for your progression, or explore other external opportunities such as additional training or alternative employment, being sure to advocate and sell yourself, your skills, and your experience along the way.
