100 per cent passes for dental nursing

Staff and students of the National Diploma in Dental Nursing delivered by Plymouth University are celebrating the news that all of this year’s graduating students have passed the course, a 100 per cent success rate achieved for the third year in a row. The two-year course takes place within the pioneering and patient centred Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, and is accredited by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses. The course provides both theoretical and practical experience, preparing each individual to become qualified a healthcare professional able to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental nurse. Dental nurses train alongside Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry dental students. Investment in Dental Education Facilities (DEF) across the South West, where dental students treat NHS patients under the supervision of clinical supervisors, means that both dental and dental nursing students benefit from meaningful exposure to patients – providing valuable experience in a controlled clinical environment – as part of their studies. The DEF system also means that dental nursing students have firsthand experience of working side-by-side with dental students and their clinical supervisors, and as part of that they benefit from a greater understanding of the dynamic of the dental team and the importance of effective communication. These are strong qualities to take forward into a future career as a dental nurse.