You’ve just gained your Level 3, 4, or even 5 in Education and Training, and you feel ready to take on your first dental nurse tutor role. But where do you start, and how do you succeed in finding employment?
Additional Qualifications
You may find that a qualification in education and training, regardless of the level, is not actually enough to get you into employment. If anything, this qualification should be seen as the bare minimum to start your dental nurse tutor career, because your potential employee will be looking for a diverse and well-rounded CV to fill their vacancy.
Ways to improve your chances include taking on additional qualifications, which can include radiography, oral health education, fluoride application, and many more. These skills are all beneficial when working as a dental nurse but, when working as a tutor, they show that you have been able to commit your time and energy to further study, and that you have a strong understanding of more than just the basics of dentistry. From an employer’s perspective, this means you’ll be able to mark multiple types of courses rather than being stuck with just one. Additional qualifications will always help, and never hinder, your tutor career and, if an employer must choose between someone who has spent no time on further study versus someone committed to it, then they’re bound to choose the latter.
Professional Development
Going hand in hand with additional qualifications, your professional development is another determining factor in finding employment, as being able to show that you are dedicated to your own development also shows that you take your profession seriously. Employers will want someone who is invested in the dental industry, and being able to show a dedication to self-improvement and development is a great way to show how much you want to be involved.
Professional development can be shown through the use of upskilling and further qualifications, through career advancements (for example, experience as decon lead, fluoride applicator, radiograph taker, head nurse, or a practice manager, to name a few), and through a personal development plan which clearly showcases your career goals, your achievements, and your plans for your future. It’s important to show how dental nurse tutoring fits into your career plan and work satisfaction, and how you’re continuing to improve your skills and knowledge with CPD and further training.
Passion for the Industry
You’ll also need to demonstrate a passion for the industry. It’s not quite enough to just have the qualifications; a large part of what we do is reflected in our interest in our role and the ways in which we love what we do every day. It is this passion that carries tutoring to the next level; it elevates the lessons imparted to students and helps to give them the same enthusiasm and enjoyment that we feel ourselves. Students with an enthused teacher are much more likely to succeed than ones without!
Summary
Becoming a dental nurse tutor is about more than getting that one qualification in education and training – it’s also about the ways you use your professional development, CPD, and personal attributes across your dental nurse career to enhance your skills and employability. By taking on studies and keeping up to date with the latest advancements, for example, you are more likely to keep up your enthusiasm and enjoyment of dentistry – which is the exact attitude that employers will be looking for.
By Natasha Garthwaite BSc, RDN