Patient-Centred Collaboration

Patient-Centred Collaboration supports meeting I 2.3. For dental nurses, it means keeping patient needs, dignity and preferences central while working within defined roles.

Team working is a safety measure: knowing who is responsible for each task, respecting scope of practice, communicating clearly and protecting colleagues or patients who raise concerns.

These behaviours show up in everyday moments: a patient who seems uncertain, a receptionist asking for guidance, a dentist rushing, a trainee needing feedback, a digital message, a handover, or a colleague worried about raising an issue. Interpersonal skill is the ability to respond with care, clear communication 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 we pause and check whose role this is, so the patient gets the right support?" The wording is calm and professional and gives the team a clear reason to pause, clarify or escalate.

SPF behaviour links

Roles of dental and other healthcare professionals in learning and working within dental and wider healthcare teams helps dental nurses protect patient dignity, team trust and safe care.