Behaviour at Work, in Public and in the Community

Professional behaviour matters in every setting: the surgery, decontamination room, reception, waiting area, training events, practice meetings, work socials, and public places. In smaller communities patients may recognise staff outside work.

Dental nurses are entitled to a private life. However, behaviour that is threatening, discriminatory, dishonest, abusive, exploitative or seriously irresponsible can damage public confidence when it becomes linked to the practice, patients, colleagues, uniform, identity badges, online profiles or local knowledge.

Trust can be damaged by

• Arguing loudly with colleagues where patients can hear.
• Mocking patients, relatives or other practices in public.
• Wearing practice uniform while behaving aggressively or intoxicated.
• Sharing workplace frustrations in identifiable public spaces.
• Making discriminatory remarks at work or at a work-linked event.
• Ignoring conduct that makes patients or colleagues feel unsafe.

Professional behaviour does not require silence. You can be friendly and human while remaining respectful, honest, safe and proportionate.

Private life and professional standards

Professional behaviour travels with recognisable context: uniform, workplace links, public comments, online profiles and local community knowledge can connect conduct back to dentistry.