Welcome

This course is written for dental nurses who need targeted CPD for the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework Professionalism learning outcome P 3.7: Discuss the ethical challenges associated with providing patient care within the current dental healthcare systems.

SPF fit: This course supports the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework domain of Professionalism, sub domain Social Accountability. It focuses on learning outcome P 3.7 and links closely to behaviour P(B)17: Contribute positively to the healthcare communities of which you are a part.

The Professionalism domain expects dental nurses to act ethically, show leadership and social accountability, advocate for oral health, promote prevention, and understand sustainable service delivery. This course keeps that domain in view while focusing on the single learning outcome above.

Why This Course Matters

• It is targeted: the course is organised around one SPF Professionalism learning outcome rather than a broad topic heading.
• It is dental-nurse specific: examples address chairside care, reception support, decontamination, handover, record keeping, patient communication and practice systems.
• It respects scope: dental nurses learn how to observe, prepare, support, record, question and escalate without making decisions outside their competence.
• It supports professionalism: the course links everyday practice to patient safety, trust, team working and community oral health.

A Simple Learner Spine

• Discuss ethical challenges in current dental healthcare systems.
• Recognise access, cost, prevention and resource pressures that affect patients.
• Apply patient-first thinking while respecting service limits.
• Identify situations where dental nurses should ask, record or escalate.
• Use reflective judgement when systems create tension or moral distress.