Posted in Posts
Gemma Forsythe explores burnout in dental nursing, including what causes it and how you can try to prevent it. Burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion due to excessive and prolonged work-related stressors. When you are stressed for a long time and it is not addressed, this can lead to burnout. Burnout is not…
Posted in Posts
Are you considering dental nursing? Gemma Forsythe dives deep into the multifaceted role including the skills it requires and responsibilities it involves. I get a lot of questions surrounding my role as a dental nurse, and people wonder whether a career in dental nursing is something they should pursue for themselves. In this article, I…
Posted in Posts
Gemma Forsythe shares what dental anxiety looks like and her top tips for supporting patients who suffer with it. Regular dental visits are important for oral health, but for some patients their dental anxiety can lead to them postponing or avoiding dental appointments. Dental anxiety is very common and can be caused by several factors…
Posted in Posts
This month, Gemma Forsythe talks to dental nurse Yakini Lateefah to find out the pros and cons of locum dental nursing. Locum dental nursing is something that intrigues me, going from one practice to the next from day to day, not knowing who you are going to be nursing alongside or what kind of practice…
Posted in Posts
This month, Gemma Forsythe discusses the STIs you can spot during a check-up, their symptoms and how to approach the topic with patients. Share love, not infections. Something that is important to be aware of, but won’t be discussed much due to the stigma surrounding the subject, is sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in relation to…
Posted in Posts
Gemma Forsythe discusses how dental nursing is overshadowed and unrecognised – despite its crucial role in patient care and general running of the practice. The dental field in general is definitely underrated in healthcare. Despite our vital role, the contributions of dental nurses can go unnoticed a lot of the time, often overshadowed by the…
Posted in Posts
From burnout to staff-shortages, this month Gemma Forsythe highlights the daily struggles of dental nurses and typical symptoms of stress. Dentistry is a high pressure and (sometimes) stressful sector to work in. For dental nurses, a lot of us feel under pressure, under-appreciated and burnt out at work, whether this is due to being short-staffed,…
Posted in Posts
Gemma Forsythe discusses the ‘endless opportunities’ for career development as a dental nurse, and how to make the right decision for you. Here we are in 2024 already! A new year for many people means new goals. And for those who have recently qualified as a dental nurse, this could mean undertaking an additional course.…
Posted in Posts
Give me a break! Gemma Forsythe discusses the many pressures of dental nursing, such as the inability to take breaks, staff shortages, and burnout. A survey was conducted by Dental Protection of over 1,300 dental professionals in the UK and the results have now been published. Around 35% of dental professionals are unable to take…
Posted in Posts
This month, Gemma Forsythe discusses how dental practices can create an open and supportive environment for women experiencing menopause symptoms. Menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, so it’s important now more than ever to be able to speak openly about menopause at work. Many women find it very challenging to talk about…
Posted in Posts
For Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, Gemma Forsythe talks to Preetee Hylton about the signs of domestic abuse and why dental professionals need to understand them. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this is a very important issue to highlight. Preetee Hylton RDN discusses the signs to look out for, organisations to signpost…
Posted in Posts
Gemma Forsythe chats to Chloe Phillips about her journey from trainee dental nurse to client experience manager, and the importance to finding your strengths. Through my Nursing Matters column, I hope to educate, engage and inspire dental nurses. This month I caught up with Chloe Phillips, a client experience manager for both Lion Dental and…
Posted in Posts
Following Rishi Sunak’s proposal to increase training places for dental therapists, Gemma Forsythe talks to Lauren Long about her experience as a therapist, and the public and profession’s perception of the role. Recently, during a press conference unveiling the 15 year NHS Workforce Plan, in particular discussing dentistry reform, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested that…
Posted in Posts
This month, Gemma Forsythe discusses the dental nursing recruitment crisis and her advice for both practice owners and dental nurses during this worrying time. It is no secret that there is a dental nursing recruitment and retention crisis in the UK. There are a number of reasons that contribute to this. Today I am going…
Posted in Posts
To mark Stroke Awareness Month this May, Gemma Forsythe explains how dental professionals can adapt the patient experience for stroke survivors during their appointments. The Stroke Association has designated May as their annual Stroke Awareness Month – otherwise known as ‘Make May Purple’. Their aim is to increase the awareness of stroke, stroke prevention and…
Posted in Posts
‘It’s not a sign of weakness’ – to mark Stress Awareness Month this April, Gemma Forsythe sheds light on stress amongst dental nurses, including the most common causes of it and how to spot signs of stress. It is no secret that dentistry is a high pressure and stressful profession. It is becoming increasingly harder…
Posted in Posts
With many nurses currently feeling undervalued, Gemma Forsythe talks to a co-founder of Molar Mindset, a new platform designed to support them with their wellbeing, about the services it offers and her own experiences with her mental health. This month I caught up with Marisa Russell, the co-founder, along with Heidi Grimwood, of The Molar…
Posted in Posts
With an ongoing dental nursing recruitment and retention crisis in dentistry, this month Gemma Forsythe speaks to Action for Dental Nurses, a newly-formed group trying to shine light on the importance of dental nurses and the dental nurses crisis. As we all know, we are currently facing a dental nursing crisis in the UK –…
Posted in Posts
This month Gemma Forsythe discusses how and why to get your patients involved with Flossuary, the 28 day flossing challenge, including insight from the Flossuary founder, Liz Matthews. New Year is a time when a lot of us want to set goals, resolutions, or improve on something. This month, I want to discuss how Flossuary…
