Advanced Dental Nursing – Level 4

The programme, which is currently subject to validation, will be delivered over two academic years on a part-time basis leading to the award of Certificate of Higher Education in Advanced Dental Nursing.

The programme aims to provide Dental Nurse education that addresses all the relevant professional benchmarks, producing dental nurses who are safe for practice, with the knowledge and skills required to competently and safely extend their scope of practice.

Course Facts

• Name: Dental Nursing
• Qualification: Cert HE
• Duration: 2 years part time

Contact Us

If you have additional questions about academic aspects of the course, please e-mail: info@awfdcp.ac.uk

Course Structure

The programme exit award is a Certificate of Higher Education. The programme prepares dental nurses for registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) and will meet all of the requirements of the GDC’s “Preparing for Practice: Dental nursing learning outcomes for registration”, the National Occupational Standards as required by Welsh Government’s “The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for Wales” (SASW). The five modules in Year 1 will underpin safe and effective dental nursing practice, predominantly focusing on study skills, health and safety, clinical procedures with the emphasis shifting towards working in a professional environment and management of care. This will be facilitated by a spiral curriculum.

Year 2 of the programme will build on this foundation, facilitating students to develop their knowledge and competence to work to the limits of the GDC’s Scope of Practice. Optional modules will be used to ensure that the programme meets the needs of this diverse student group, their places of work and the oral health needs of the local population, allowing learners to select modules, which reflect their aspirations and the requirements of their employing practice.

Course Modules

• Preparing to train
• Biomedical Science
• Operative Dentistry
• Patient Assessment and Management 1
• Law ethics and professionalism 1
• Operative dentistry 2
• Patient Assessment and Management 2
• Law ethics and professionalism 2
• Extended Practice
• Development of Self and Others

Teaching Learning and Assessment

Each module utilises a mix of teaching methods, which take into account of the subject matter, the student group size, the students’ previous experience and the resources available. Students will be exposed to a variety of assessment methods designed to ensure that the content, outcomes and level of the modules are measured in a fair and transparent manner. Assessment methods include portfolio, short answer examinations, case studies, projects and reviews.

The programme will enable students that successfully complete all the programme requirements to be awarded a certificate of higher education and to register with the General Dental Council and to practice as a Dental Nurse.

Throughout this programme, the students will be employed within the dental setting and as such, it is highly likely that, upon graduation, their employers will be keen to utilise their skills to benefit the patients and the dental setting.

Furthermore, it is envisaged that the current dental reforms will create knowledge and skill gaps of the future dental workforce. Alumni of this programme will be amongst a very small minority of dental nurses educated and equipped with a wide range of highly desirable advanced clinical skills, which will serve them well in their future careers and play a vital part in meeting the increasing demands on dental services

On completion of the programme, learners are likely to be employed as dental nurses, but may wish to utilise this qualification to access further education to pursue a career in the following;

• Dental hygienist

• Dental therapist

• Orthodontic therapist

• Clinical dental technologist

• Laboratory technician

• Dentist

Career pathways and progression can facilitate opportunity to undertake further higher education study.

Bangor University has strong links to the local healthcare authorities in North Wales and these will increase as the programme develops.

Links with Industry

Bangor University has strong links to the local healthcare authorities in North Wales and these will increase as the programme develops.

Careers advice

Careers advice is gained from healthcare professionals both in practice and in dedicated careers sessions and NHS Careers has more details of the career opportunities that are available to graduates. You are also eligible to register for the Bangor Employability Award to further enhance career prospects and advice is also available form the Bangor University Careers & Employability Service.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Careers and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

Academic and Professional Entry Requirements

• Employment in a dental setting during the course that enables the work based learning component of the award to be fulfilled.
• Agreement from their employer to support the applicant during the Award and ensure, in conjunction with the educational provider, effective mentoring whilst undertaking the work based learning.
• 5 GCSEs at C or above including English, or;
• NVQ level 3, or;
• A/S level x2, or;
• A level x1, or;
• AVEC or BTEC
• Candidates who do not possess the above will be considered on an individual basis, but must demonstrate evidence of the ability to study successfully at level 4
• In addition, all candidates must demonstrate satisfactory capability in literacy and numeracy

More Information

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks will be required in line with School of Health Sciences, Bangor University, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the General Dental Council policies, procedures and regulations

Welsh Apprenticeship Framework

This programme is available on the Welsh apprenticeship framework (SHELL), so is free at the point of receipt.

Non-Apprenticeship

The programme is available to those outside of Wales, however there will be a charge for the course. Please contact your local education provider regarding course costs.

Early applications for admission to the programme are encouraged. Individual applications should be made to the programme educational providers. These providers are further education colleges that will be delivering the approved Faculty programme.

We are currently in consultation with education providers regarding programme delivery. Please visit again soon to view a list of approved providers.

If you are an interested educational provider please contact the faculty info@awfdcp.ac.uk for more information

Need help applying?

If you have any questions about entry requirements; how to apply; or the course you are interested in, please do not hesitate to contact with the Faculty at info@awfdcp.ac.uk, we look forward to hearing from you.

Contact us

For more specific information, contact the Faculty by email at info@awfdcp.ac.uk

Why study with the Faculty at the School of Health Sciences, Bangor University?

• 1st in the UK for Radiography and Nursing 'Graduate Prospects' (THE TIMES Good University Guide 2018).
• 1st in the UK for Radiography and Top 10 for Nursing (THE TIMES Good University Guide 2018).
• 1st in the UK for Nursing and Radiography 'Graduate Prospects' (The Complete University Guide 2018).
• Bangor University is rated Gold for "outstanding teaching" (2017 Teaching Excellence Framework).
• Our Pre- Registration Midwifery and Nursing degree courses lead to both an academic award and registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Our Radiography degree course leads to both an academic award and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HPC).
• Our Midwifery course is accredited by UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative.
• We have positive links with the local University Health Board (BCUHB) and other care providers in North Wales, and North West England.
• Health and Well-being offers a work placement in your second year to help improve your workplace skills and give your CV a healthy boost. Depending on your interests this might involve you working with a school or community group, or even as part of Public Health Wales.
• Radiography, Midwifery and Nursing are still NHS Bursary funded, providing payment of all tuition fees and grant support towards living costs available to students from across the UK & EU.
• There will be opportunities to experience bilingual practice in some parts of your placements.
• We have Experienced Researchers and Lecturers in Health/Social Care and Well-being.
• We offer conferences, seminars and workshops on key health and social care issues.
• An accreditation of Prior Learning Scheme, so that previous academic experiences may be accredited.
• We have one of the largest Peer Guiding schemes.
• We have commissioned places for some modules and courses particularly for BCUHB and WAST employees.

Studying with Bangor

Rated Gold for teaching

We have been awarded a Gold rating, the highest rating possible, for the standard of our teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment. The TEF assessment took into account teaching quality, learning environment and student outcomes and learning gain. We were judged to deliver consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students and our teaching is of the highest quality found in the UK.

A top 10 university

The National Student Survey (NSS) results place Bangor amongst the UK’s top 10 universities (excluding specialist institutions) for student satisfaction. This reflects the University’s focus on overall student experience.