Receiving Feedback Well

Receiving Feedback Well supports meeting S 2.6. For dental nurses this involves listening, clarifying, reviewing examples and avoiding an immediate defensive response.

Learning is stronger when reflection, feedback and evidence are linked. The aim is safer practice and clearer professional development, not paperwork for its own sake.

In practice this often appears in small moments: a routine task, a patient question that falls outside your usual role, an unclear handover, a colleague under pressure, a new system, or a sense that something is not right. Professional self-management is noticing these moments and choosing a safe response.

Practical markers

• Notice: what the patient, team, task or system is showing before the concern becomes normalised.
• Check: your role, competence, current guidance, local policy and the support available.
• Ask: for advice or feedback when uncertainty, workload, emotion or change could affect judgement.
• Act: through a proportionate next step: pause, clarify, hand over, record, report, reflect or escalate.
• Review: whether the action improved safety, learning, wellbeing or confidence for future practice.

Simple phrases work for speaking up: "Can I check the current guidance or ask for feedback before we make this routine?" This respectfully names the safety, learning or wellbeing concern so someone can respond.

SPF behaviour links

Using effective feedback in the professional development of self helps dental nurses link self-management with patient safety, professional growth and team trust.