Learning From Communication Breakdowns

Learning From Communication Breakdowns supports meeting I 1.5. For dental nurses, this requires using debriefs, audits and team meetings to improve how colleagues communicate.

Communication in dental nursing is practical patient-safety work. It enables valid consent, preserves dignity, reassures patients, ensures accurate records, supports handover, aids prevention and prompts escalation when needed.

These issues often arise in everyday moments: a patient who looks uncertain, a receptionist asking for guidance, a dentist working quickly, a trainee needing feedback, a digital message, a handover, or a colleague unsure about raising a concern. Interpersonal skill is the ability to respond with care, clarity and professional judgement.

Practical markers

• Notice: what the patient, colleague, situation or system is signalling.
• Choose: a communication method, team route or escalation step appropriate to the context.
• Respect: role boundaries, confidentiality, dignity, cultural needs and emotional impact.
• Check: understanding, responsibility and whether the next person has the information they need.
• Follow up: record actions, give feedback, discuss in supervision or raise concerns when required.

Useful language can be simple: "Can I check how the patient would prefer us to explain this before we continue?" It is calm and professional while giving the team a clear reason to pause, clarify or escalate.

SPF behaviour links

Spoken, written and electronic communication with dental and wider healthcare colleagues helps dental nurses protect patient dignity, team trust and safe care.