Feedback Between Peers

Feedback Between Peers supports meeting I 1.8. For dental nurses, this means giving clear, professional feedback to colleagues who share similar roles or have different responsibilities.

Communication in dental nursing directly affects patient safety. It contributes to valid consent, dignity, reassurance, accurate records, effective handover, prevention and timely escalation.

In everyday practice feedback often arises in simple moments: a patient who seems uncertain, a receptionist asking for guidance, a dentist moving quickly, a trainee seeking input, a digital message, a handover, or a colleague hesitant to raise a concern. Interpersonal skill is responding to these moments with care, clarity and professional judgement.

Practical markers

• Notice: what the patient, colleague, situation or system is communicating.
• Choose: a communication method, team route or escalation step that fits the context.
• Respect: role boundaries, confidentiality, dignity, cultural needs and emotional impact.
• Check: understanding, responsibility, handover and whether the next person has the information they need.
• Follow up: through records, feedback, supervision, team discussion or concern-raising where needed.

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

SPF behaviour links

Giving feedback effectively to other members of the team helps dental nurses protect patient dignity, team trust and safe care.