A whole new world

Fiona Ellwood explains how the Society of British Dental Nurses’ virtual conference reflects the current need for adaptability whilst focusing on the bigger picture

The Society of British Dental Nurses (SBDN) is taking a broader look at dentistry to give an insight into how wide the field really is. One of our core values is around career progression and we try to keep our core values central to everything we do. We didn’t have a crystal ball when the theme was agreed, but what a coincidence given that we are all now being asked to think outside the box.

Often, we hear dental nurses saying they feel trapped or stuck and that they have done everything they can do and this can be the reason why dental nurses leave the profession. So, in listening to our delegates year on year and considering the bigger picture, we felt it was time to showcase some of the wider fields and, what’s more, some of the newer fields, procedures and techniques. Many of these lectures are pre-course tasters, too. Not many dental nurses of previous generations would even have imagined that we would be considering training dental nurses to undertake cannulation, play a part in identifying skin cancer or be involved in obesity strategy – it is a whole new world out there and it is there to be embraced.

Dental nurses are an under-utilised, agile, talented and adaptable workforce and, now more than ever, we should be shining a light on them, their skills, ability and capabilities.

What are the challenges of a virtual event?

Changing thinking, changing mindsets, looking at the best platforms and ensuring we get engagement – not only did we have to consider that the dental team are ‘webinared’ out, but there are also those who are unable to connect to online events. Deep down, what our delegates like about our conferences is the interaction with likeminded people, the sharing of experiences whether good or bad and the coming together, feeling valued and it is difficult to imitate this in a virtual event. The interaction is not the same – you are for all intense and purposes ‘alone together’. In a way, the switch behind the scene has been relatively straight forward given that we function as a team in a virtual space anyway. The pandemic has really forced the hand of many to engage via the virtual space, some kicking and screaming and resisting.

Why is this a good time for dental nurses to attend conferences, albeit virtually?

As with any major change in life and professional arenas, change can be viewed as difficult. But it can also be viewed as an opportunity and the pandemic has certainly brought about change just with magnitude and, in some cases, tragedy. There are mixed feelings out there – confusion, feelings of being overwhelmed and undervalued and feelings of anxiety and stress as well as uncertainty. The mental health and wellbeing of our members, followers and friends is so important. The Society want to support dental nurses at this difficult time and bring a sense of being united and being listened to. We would like to reignite the passion and the drive for the profession and give dental nurses new pathways to consider. We are concerned and rightly so, that the impact of the pandemic has not just been immediate, but that it is likely to be long term and already we have lost far too many disillusioned and disenchanted dental nurses. That in itself has the potential to disrupt the workplace team ethos and deplete the workforce in a more general sense. Of course, the upside is that being online means that dental nurses across the UK can join us and beyond. When we have a face-to-face conference, not only are our numbers limited, but travel has frequently been identified as a barrier to attending. Of course, everyone is welcome to join us – it is not just a conference for members. We also welcome other members of the dental team and dental nurse students, who are very important to us, too. Many dental nurses are not members of a professional group, but the pandemic has certainly helped to see why it is important. Our social media following has grown beyond expectations during the pandemic and our membership has doubled and continues to increase on a weekly basis. Our helpline at the height of the pandemic was run 24/7 by trained dental team members and we introduced a policy to turn nobody away in difficulty. Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub has a fantastic following as have our other sub-groups. Students have also benefited through our student hangout. As well as the amazing line-up of speakers and awards, we will also be honouring Linnette Cruz, who was a senior head dental nurse at the Brynteg dental practice in Sketty, Swansea, who lost her fight against COVID-19, and friend and colleague Janet Goodwin, who recently passed away.

To book, visit https://bit.ly/37szMAz

How to ensure the ultimate virtual experience Get tech savvy – do a dummy run, check you have audio and be very aware of how to control your video and mic (don’t be the one on mute trying to talk!) Be ready to take notes Find a quiet place to listen and watch Eliminate distractions Get up and stretch when the opportunity arises Remember – hydration is important so keep water to hand! Be active rather than passive and ask questions when the opportunity arises If you are on social media, use the relevant hashtags to share key points Do ask if slides/presentations are available after the event – never assume that they are Discuss and reflect after the conference Mute when you are not contributing to conversations and, if you struggle with signal, turn off your video to help the band width Dress as though you are going to work – you ‘ll never know what settings the host has on and you may appear unexpectedly on everyone’s screens!