Registered Dental Nurse Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Prepare surgeries and assist clinicians chairside.
• Maintain decontamination and instrument traceability.
• Support accurate consent and patient records.
• Manage materials, clinical waste and stock.
• Perform additional skills only when authorised.
• Maintain registration and professional development.

A realistic working scenario

A material batch cannot be identified during an implant procedure. The nurse pauses its use and obtains a traceable replacement rather than reconstructing details later.

Outputs to agree

• prepared safe treatment sessions
• reliable chairside assistance
• complete instrument and material control

Records and evidence

• Surgery check.
• Decontamination link.
• Material batch.
• Incident and handover.
• Patient records.
• Care notes.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Clinical Lead, Nurse Manager, Matron, Practice Manager or Registered Manager. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• The nurse performs registered and additional skills within competence; diagnosis and independent treatment remain outside scope.
• Obtain approval before committing expenditure, changing contractual commitments or making regulated or staffing decisions outside the assigned role.

Tools and systems

• Patient record systems.
• Observation equipment.
• Clinical communication tools.
• Incident reporting systems.
• Medicine systems where authorised.

Workplace context

• Clinical, ward, community or approved patient-care areas.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required safeguarding training.
• Complete employer-required health and safety training.

Contract priorities

• GDC registration
• CPD
• decontamination and sharps
• additional qualifications

Information the employer should prepare

• the practice sites and surgery rota
• the clinicians and services supported
• the additional skills genuinely required
• the instrument and waste systems
• the emergency and safeguarding duties
• the registration and training provisions