National Dental Nurse Awards 2023

Nomination Guidelines

The Society of British Dental Nurses presents ‘Dental Nursing Awards of Excellence’ each year on National Dental Nurses Day (22nd November). It is time to celebrate the diverse role of the Dental Nurse. There are 5 award categories and details are below on how to nominate and enter the awards. 

Please read through the criteria for the categories that you are nominating individuals for and check that your entry complies with them. Self-nominations are not accepted for the purpose of these awards

  1. Any member of the dental team or allied professionals can nominate a dental nurse for these awards. However, they must be nominated through the correct route i.e., by completing the official nomination form and be nominated by at least one dental professional. 
  2. We recommend those nominating individuals for awards provide a strong statement of support within the word count to make it easier for the judging panel to come to a decision.
  3. Nominees will not be advised who has nominated them. Nominees will be required to engage with SBDN if they are successful and be willing to form part of the success publicity, this is a requirement of accepting the recognition.
  4. Nominees can be from any field of dentistry, but must be a post held by a dental nurse and within their current Scope of Practice, this includes dental charity working.
  5. The contribution should be aligned to the commitment to providing a service that is above and beyond the remit of their paid employment no matter how admirable it is, and the work must lend itself to an area of the SBDN core values.
  6. If the nominee is a member of the SBDN it is good to make this clear, what is important is that the dental nurse is a UK registered dental nurse, unless the award is for an overseas award. In the case of the student dental nurse, they must be on an approved dental nursing course.
  7. We are also looking for innovative, inspirational, motivational, and visionary dental nurses and those who give their time to charity and have the support of the Charity.
  8. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into or feedback given regarding the selection of shortlisted nominations or winners.
  9. Please note that applicants who have been previously recognised by SBDN are not eligible to enter a category for a second time based on the same or identical evidence as before.
  10.  

Categories and criteria

This year the Society want to celebrate the qualities and attributes of dental nurses. We recognise and value the day-to-day work of all dental nurses and want to celebrate those acts that go beyond this. The world of dental nursing has changed and continues to do so, and it is important to keep up with change and have an eye on the future.

Inspirational Dental Nurse Award: This award is open to either a student or registered dental nurse who is inspirational, shown initiative and has made an impact to their team or patients above and beyond day-to-day working.

Examples are: Dental Nursing Early Career Award: This award is open to a registered newly qualified dental nurse. Registered between 2021 – 2023.  

Dental Nursing Compassion Award: This award is open to either a student or registered dental nurse who has shown significant kindness and compassion to either the team, a colleague, or a patient above and beyond day-to-day working.

Examples are: Charity work, mentorship, mental health lead working, oral care and older people, significant compassion towards an individual or patient.

Dental Nursing Leadership Award: This award is open to either a student or registered dental nurse who has taken a leadership role and developed and maintained key leadership skills and gained respect from colleagues whilst going above and beyond day-to-day working.

Examples are: Addressing challenging situations at work, introducing change, and taking the team with you, growing people.

Dental Nursing Long Career Contribution Award: This award is open to registered dental nurses who have demonstrated professionalism and have over time acted as an advocate for dental nursing as a profession and contributes to the core values of being a dental nurse above and beyond day-to-day working.

Examples are: Long service, professional speaking, representative of groups of dental nursing, recognised for excellent work at management level.

Make Your Nomination Here

By submitting your nomination, you are happy for a member of SBDN to contact you to discuss your nomination further.