Dental Nurse CV Writing Guide
Congratulations on joining the Dental nursing course to become a qualified dental nurse! The next step of securing a job can be incredibly daunting, particularly for a trainee dental nurse position who do not have a wealth of experience to put on their dental nurse CV.
Worry not! This blog will guide you through everything to write, and not write, on your dental nurse CV to make your application stand out, and smoothly secure a job.
Our Dental Nurse CV Template
A strong dental nurse CV should be clear, concise, and highlight your skills and experience relevant to dental care. Here’s a basic structure to follow:
- Personal Details
- Include your full name, phone number, and professional email address.
- Personal Statement
- Briefly introduce yourself and your passion for dental nursing (1-3 sentences).
- Tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for, highlighting relevant skills and experience.
- Work Experience
- List your dental nurse experience if any or in any health care sector in reverse chronological order.
- Include company name, job title, and dates of employment.
- Briefly describe your responsibilities and achievements using action verbs.
- Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., “reduced appointment wait times by 10%”).
- Education & Qualifications
- List your relevant qualifications and experiences, including dental nursing or receptionist experience, health care experience, Include certifications like BLS, basic first aid course.
- Include the awarding body and year of completion.
- Key Skills
- Highlight your most relevant dental nursing skills ( if you have worked previously as a trainee)
- Include essential soft skills like communication, teamwork, and organization.
- Additional Sections (Optional)
- Include relevant certifications, awards, or grades of GCSE or A levels.
- Briefly mention relevant volunteer work or extracurricular activities that showcase transferable skills.
Formatting Tips
- Use a clear and easy-to-read font (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman).
- Maintain consistent formatting throughout the CV.
- Proofread carefully for any typos or grammatical errors.
Dental Nurse Personal Statement
What to Write:
- Introduce Yourself. Briefly state your name and your career focus as a dental nurse.
- Passion & Motivation. Express your enthusiasm for dental care and your desire to contribute to a positive patient experience.
- Highlight Skills & Experience. Mention 1-2 key skills or experiences most relevant to the specific job you’re applying for.
- Connect to the Role. Briefly explain how your skills and experience align with the job requirements (optional, for a stronger impact).
Example:
Highly motivated to become a compassionate dental nurse by completing Diploma in dental nursing and getting the experience if offered an opportunity to work in your busy private practice. I am passionate about providing exceptional patient care and ensuring a comfortable dental experience for all. My expertise in chairside assistance, sterilisation procedures, and patient education allows me to effectively support the dental team and contribute to optimal patient outcomes.
Showing Your Dental Nurse Record Of Experience
We recommend structuring this section in the following way:
Trainee Dental Nurse/ Receptionist | Smile Dental Care | 2 months
Provided comprehensive chairside assistance to dentists during a variety of procedures, ensuring smooth operation and patient comfort.
- Prepared and sterilised dental instruments and equipment, adhering to strict infection control protocols.
- Assisted with taking digital X-rays, ensuring accurate patient positioning and image quality.
- Managed patient flow and scheduling, minimizing wait times and optimizing clinic efficiency (reduced appointment wait times by 15%).
- Provided clear and compassionate pre- and post-operative instructions to patients, promoting good oral hygiene practices.
Strengths of this example:
- This example uses a clear structure with job title, company, and dates.
- Strong action verbs like “provided,” “prepared,” and “managed” showcase initiative.
- Numbers are used to quantify achievements (“reduced wait times by 15%”).
- Skills like chairside assisting, sterilisation, X-rays, and patient communication are highlighted.
Dental Nurse Skills Section
Generally, your skills should be categorised as technical skills (which will benefit you on the job), soft skills (which are more general, transferable skills), and bonus skills (which have not been asked for, yet other candidates may not have, and can help your application to stand out).
Technical Skills could include: ( If you have any previous experience) If not just include the soft skills.
- Sterilisation Procedures such as aseptic technique, instrument cleaning and disinfection, equipment maintenance.
- Dental Radiology, including X-ray positioning, exposure techniques, digital imaging software.
- Dental Materials Management. Preparing dental materials (e.g., fillings, cements), inventory control.
- Chairside Assisting by preparing the operatory, handing instruments to the dentist, suctioning, patient positioning.
- Laboratory Procedures. Creating dental models, processing dentures, preparing crown and bridge materials.
Soft Skills:
- Communication. Effectively communicating with patients of all ages and backgrounds, explaining procedures clearly, actively listening to concerns.
- Empathy. Demonstrating compassion and understanding towards patients experiencing anxiety or discomfort.
- Teamwork. Collaborating effectively with dentists, hygienists, and other dental staff to ensure smooth operation.
- Problem-solving. Thinking critically to identify and resolve issues that may arise during procedures.
Bonus Skills:
- Foreign Language Skills. If you are fluent in a language other than English, list it here, especially if the practice serves a diverse clientele.