Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice (Top-Up)

Overview
Whether you’re due to graduate with a GDC accredited CertHE Dental Nursing or other Level 4 Dental Nursing Qualification, or you’re a practising dental nurse and keen to develop your career, this Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice degree will boost your prospects. It enables you to top-up your existing qualifications to a BSc (Hons) degree in just 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time.

You'll develop your clinical skills and learn to become more interactive with patient care and to improve skill mix within the dental team. You'll gain graduate skills to help you progress into senior dental nursing roles and practice at a higher level. Employers recognise the part that dental nurses with advanced skills contribute to improving dental care across the UK. As demand for dental care services continues to rise, you’ll be well placed to take advantage of opportunities to grow your role.

Course highlights

• Broaden your clinical skills in areas ranging from impression taking to radiography

• Get ready for opportunities as a lead dental nurse, clinical coordinator or practice manager by developing knowledge and skills in mentorship and clinical audit

• Develop demonstrable skills in leadership and decision-making, communication and managing people

• Build your credibility for senior roles by gaining knowledge and understanding of clinical governance

• Apply your learning in the community as part of a clinical student team, treating real patients via the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy and its outreach projects

• Enhance your professional contacts by networking with visiting industry figures and forging links with lecturers who are active in dental practice

Careers and opportunities
Now is the ideal time to boost your career potential with this BSc (Hons) Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice (Top-Up). Health Education England’s Advancing Dental Care Review 2021 recommends building up the capabilities of dental professionals. It calls for better use of the skills mix and multi-disciplinary teamworking within dental care services.

If you’re already working professionally as a dental nurse, you will almost certainly have noticed that demand on dental services is rising. Increasingly, dental nurses will be expected to carry out more direct patient care and senior roles, as well as performing their statutory duties of supporting clinicians and patients.

This qualification will equip you to take advantage of those opportunities. It can also open up a range of other professional paths.

What areas can you work with in with a BSc (Hons) Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice?

• general dental practice (NHS or private)

• specialist services such as cosmetic dentistry and dental implants

• pharmaceutical industry

• oral care industry

• dental education

• supervision of trainee dental nurses

• What jobs can you do with a BSc (Hons) Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice?

• senior dental nurse

• clinical coordinator

• dental practice manager

• graduate roles in the pharmaceutical industry

• graduate roles in the oral care industry

You’ll also be a step closer to specialist dental roles such as hygienist or therapist, with further training.

Alternatively, you could choose to progress into further study, such as a Master’s in the dental field. Pursuing an academic path may lead you to further advanced career opportunities, or allow you to move into higher educational roles or research.