The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK’s professional association for dental nurses, is today launching its Wellbeing Survey.

The survey will collate basic information on dental nurses’ wellbeing and mental health with a view to better tailoring  services provided by BADN to members’ needs.  The information may also be used in the writing of articles on the subject for the dental press, to higlight this very important issue.

All responses will remain confidential and any information used in articles will be anonymised.

All dental nurses – Registered Dental Nurses and student dental nurses, whether BADN members or not – are invited to participate in the survey, which may be found at www.badn.org.uk/wellbeingsurvey  until 31 August 2023.

BADN members can access the Health & Wellbeing Hub – which contains information on physical, mental and financial wellbeing, as well as a counselling/support helpline – via the members area of the BADN website www.badn.org.uk. Dental nurses who are not yet members of their professional association may join now at www.badn.org.uk/join.

Dental nurses attending the Dentistry Show London on 6-7 October 2023 receive a 10% discount off the flexible, best available rates at any of Blue Orchid’s four London hotels through BADN membership.

Tower Residences and Tower Suites, the nearest Blue Orchid properties to ExCel, overlook Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, and are only minutes away from the Tower Gateway station for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) straight to ExCel, as well as the Circle, District and Metropolitan Tube lines.  They are also close to St Katherine’s Dock with bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.

The Wellington and The Rochester hotels are situated in Westminster’s leafy Vincent Square, close to Victoria, St James’s Park and Westminster stations (Central/District lines to Tower Gateway for the DLR to ExCel), and within walking distance of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye and St James’s Park.

Dental nurses (and their practice colleagues) spending  the weekend in London to visit the Dentistry Show London (www.london.dentistryshow.co.uk) can take advantage of this 10% discount off the flexible, best available rates at Blue Orchid London hotels via the members’ area of www.badn.org.uk. 

Tony Matharu, founder and Chairman of Blue Orchid Hosipitality commented: “At Blue Orchid Hospitality we believe in partnership working and collaboration with our preferred partners enjoying unrivalled terms, ensuring that BADN members enjoy facilities and services now ranked as some of the very best in the world. With the 273 elegant suites at Tower Suites – each offering independent living with fully equipped kitchens and lounges together with luxurious bathrooms and sumptuous bedrooms, and unrivalled bars, restaurants and leisure facilities, or the newly opened Tower Residences, offering 32 stunning apartments – providing spectacular accommodation in a wonderful location, BADN members can enjoy the very best that London can offer – ideal for families or those travelling with colleagues.”

Not yet a BADN member?  Join now at www.badn.org.uk/join to benefit from this offer – and a wide range of other discounts and special offers from BADN Rewards, the quarterly digital British Dental Nurses’ Journal with free CPD, tthe Legal Helpline, the Health & Wellness Hub with counselling/support helpline, special member-rate indemnity cover and much more!  Research shows that BADN members can save up to £459.95 a year using BADN Rewards – membership currently costs £40 a year for Full Membership (less than £1 a week!) and £10 a year for Student Membership.

The UK’s professional association for dental nurses, the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), and the Oral Health Foundation (OHF) are very excited to introduce the Janet Goodwin Educational Grant, a financial award, to help dental nurses achieve their full potential, through education and dental qualifications.

Student dental nurses who are funding their dental nursing examinations themselves can apply for the bursary to help cover course and examination fees – up to £500*.  Registered Dental Nurses wishing to further their dental nursing careers by taking extended duties courses, but who are being held back financially may also apply for the grant. Courses include:

• Oral health education
• Dental radiography
• Dental implant nursing
• Orthodontic dental nursing
• Dental sedation nursing
• Fluoride varnish application
• Special care dental nursing
• Impression taking

As a bonus, the successful applicants will each receive a signed copy of Tits Up – a wonderful and insightful book by Carol Paterson, a friend of Janet’s who organised the Blackpool dental days for the homeless and those in recovery with her, about her journey through breast cancer – the disease that ultimately took Janet Goodwin’s life.

Visit www.dentalhealth.org/janetgoodwingrant to find out more about the grant, the criteria, and to complete the application form.

Applications close on 17 August 2023.

The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK’s professional association for dental nurses, is delighted to announce that current Chairman Joan Hatchard will be taking on the role of Honorary President from the 2023 Annual General Meeting for the remainder of the recently vacated 2022-24 Presidential term.

Joan gained her National Certificate in 1988 and went on to gain post-qualification certificates in Oral Health Education, Radiography, and Conscious Sedation, becoming the practice manager of two busy private general dental practices. Joan started teaching the National Certificate course in 1989. She also gained the FAETC and the Certificate in Education (FE) and holds the City and Guilds Licentiateship in Dental Nursing.

Joan was an examiner for a number of years on the NEBDN Panel of Examiners for the National Diploma and the Certificate in Oral Health Education. She has held positions on BADN Council, first as the Chair of BADN Practice Managers’ and Receptionists’ National Group, and then as Finance Officer.  More recently, she has been a member of the BADN Executive Committee, as Treasurer and then Chairman.  Joan is a BADN Fellow and received the 2013 BADN Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dental Nursing. 

BADN Immediate Past President Jacqui Elsden said, “We felt it would not be fair to ask whoever is elected President for the 2024-26 term of office to take on the role of President a year early, without the benefit of their year as President-elect. We are very grateful to Joan for agreeing to take on the role of Honorary President for the year 2023-2024.  The duties of the President will, until the 2023 AGM, be undertaken by members of the BADN Executive Committee.”

The UK’s professional association for dental nurses, the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), has announced that Debra Worthington, who took up the role of President in November 2022, has stepped down.

“The BADN Executive Committee fully supports Debra’s decision,” said BADN Chairman Joan Hatchard LCGI FBADN. “The duties of the President will, for the time being, be carried out by members of the Executive Committee and the Panel of Representatives, assisted by the Chief Executive and the BADN head office staff.

“BADN remains fully committed to supporting the UK’s dental nurses and the dental nursing profession.”

CleanCert Hygiene is conducting a nationwide Dental Survey to provide an insight into the challenges of dental decontamination for all dental professionals.

Working in collaboration with The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) and Dentaid The Dental Charity, the survey will bring together opinions and experiences from all dental professionals with the aim of improving patient treatment outcomes.

The survey should only take 4-6 minutes. Participants will be emailed with a summary of the findings and be in with a chance of receiving one of the £100 Amazon vouchers. Refer a friend to be in with more chances of winning!

Survey closes 28 May 2023.

Start the survey here.

The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK’s professional association for dental nurses, has today launched its latest survey.

The number of dental exhibitions has increased considerably over the last few years, and BADN wants to know whether dental nurses attend dental exhibitions, which ones they attend, why they don’t attend, and what they want from exhibition organisers.

In addition, dental nurses often report being ignored at exhibitions by sales reps who mistakenly believe that dental nurses have no input into purchasing decisions.  So the survey aims to find out how much influence dental nurses have on the decision making process.

The results of the survey will be shared with exhibition organisers, dental trade companies and the BDIA.  To give your views, please go to https://www.badn.org.uk/dentalshowsurvey.

The deadline for completing the BADN Dental Nurse Recruitment & Retention Survey, conducted on behalf of Dr Debbie Reed RDN, former BADN Chair, Fellow of the College of General Dentistry (CGDent), and Director of Studies in Advanced and Specialist Healthcare and Course Director of the MSc in Advanced and Specialist Health in Global and Lifelong Learning  at the University of Kent, has now been extended to midnight on Monday 20 March 2023.

Over 3,500 dental nurses have already responded to the Survey but many more have requested more time to complete the Survey and give their views on why dental nurses are leaving the profession in droves, and what could be done to persuade them to stay – or return.

The Survey, says Dr Reed, “is essential to gain insight into the dental nurse community at this time of uncertainty, and to gather that insight taking an ethically approved, methodologically sound research approach.”The results of the Survey will be shared with all stakeholders.

The survey is open to all current Registered Dental Nurses, as well as those who have left the profession recently and is available at www.badn.org.uk/retentionsurvey.

Dental nurses attending BDIA Dental Showcase at ExCel, London on 24 and 25 March can register for a free pass courtesy of the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK’s professional association for dental nurses, at https://dentalshowcase2023.reg.buzz/badn. In addition, BADN members can get 10% off luxury accommodation with Blue Orchid Hotels.

Blue Orchid is offering a 10% discount off their best available rate at time of booking to current BADN members at all three of their London properties:  the Wellington, the Rochester and Tower Suites – the nearest to ExCel.

BADN member dental nurses can find out more and make a reservation through the members-only area of the BADN website.  Non-member dental nurses can join their professional association at www.badn.org.uk/join.   Full membership is currently £35pa (£29pa for part time workers); Student Associate membership is £10pa.

BADN member and Head of Dental Nursing at Guy’s Hospital, Samantha Salaver,  was awarded an MBE for services to dental nursing in the New Year Honours List.

Samantha joined Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in 2006 as a sister in the dental directorate, becoming a dental matron and then Head of Dental Nursing.  She set up the Dental Nursing Academy for apprentices at the Trust and is currently developing a specialist dental nursing degree.  She also set up and chaired the Association of Dental Hospitals’ dental nurses group, and has worked with NHS England to set up talent management for dental nurses.

Samantha is a member of BADN’s Panel of Representatives and also the BADN Education Committee.  She will be presenting a BADN Coffee CatchUp on the specialist dental nursing degree later in the year[1].

“I was overwhelmed and surprised to hear that I was to receive such an honour,” said Samantha. “I work with an amazing team and have been privileged to be supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ – I am proud to be a dental nurse.”

Reference:

[1] To register for this or any other BADN Coffee CatchUps, sign up for to the BADN newsletters at www.badn.org.uk/newsletter