• Make a policy to double check the patient ID.

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Infection control generally needs improving in practice and everyone needs to try follow the same rules to avoid clinician and dental nurse doing separate things.

As a clinician you need to be able to receive feedback and improve off the back of this. To work within your scope of practice as a team and to know when to refer to other team member.

• take time to learn the patient well And look at medicinal history of patient

• listen to patient concerns/ complaints and what they are here for - actively addressing these and making sure they receive appropriate care

• check patient identity and take your time and not rush procedures

• have good time management skills by having a good schedule and be ready for the day (I.e come early and check patient list)

Infection control:

• need to protect ourself and the patient and the best way to do this is by wearing appropriate PPE

• practicing good hand hygiene

• have a proper infection and cross contamination procedure in place

• an update checklist of all the equipment necessary to keep infection control in place

• to protect the patient be aware of any spillages and be mindful of cross contamination between equipment and surfaces etc

Scope of practice

• ensure that as therapists, we have a nurse by our side as we have this right

• understand our abilities and work within our remit

• be educated enough to conduct the right treatments as a therapist whilst also being aware of the scope of practice as a nurse (i.e Decon and infection control procedures)

• Get the consent before proceeding with treatment.

• Explain to the pt what the procedure is and walk them through what you are doing, especially if it’s a new pt.

• Make sure medical history is discussed and signed

• Read the notes beforehand if there is anything you need to be aware of

Never go into draws / touch anything with contaminated gloves

Standardisation - make sure your cross infection is the same for everyone (universal precaution)

HTM 0105

PPE

Decon procedure - clean / dirty sides

Check & make sure your instruments aren’t pouched dirty

Open pouch in front of patient

Don’t touch stuff with dirt gloves

Keep stuff in clean and dirty zone

-infection control could be rushed in both surgery and decontamination room; therefore to prevent cross contamination and lower the risks of universal precaution the best practice needs to be performed in the best practice and attend regular training.

-scope of practice , reflect on your own capacities and up to date knowledge to address to the right clinician if further tx is required by the dentist and not the therapist