Dental Care Professionals

Aim of the Programme:

The programme aims to provide the knowledge and skills required to work as a second appropriate person during the delivery of inhalation sedation by a competent operator and attain the PDA in Inhalation Sedation for Dental Nurses.

Expected Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the programme, the candidate should be able to:

1. Define the role of the dental nurse prior to the sedation visit, during the sedation visit and during patient recovery.
2. Explain the current legislation and professional guidance relevant to inhalation sedation.
3. Explain the anatomy and physiology relevant to inhalation sedation.
4. Explain the pharmacology of inhalation sedation agents.
5. Demonstrate recognition and management of medical emergencies, including sedation related complications.

This programme will be delivered in a blended format, comprising attendance at 8 online study sessions and two in-person sessions.  Attendance at all study days is mandatory.

Candidates are provided with guidance and instructions to access online study days, which will consist of teaching, assessment, and portfolio work. Deadlines for submitting assessments will be provided throughout the programme.

To enable candidates to participate in all aspects of this programme and assessments, they will require:

• A laptop or computer with a webcam and microphone
• Access to the internet, with a broadband connection
• Access to Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Word
• A quiet area without interruptions to concentrate on studies, for example: attendance at online study days and completion of assessments

Candidates will be required to successfully complete the programme’s assessment to be awarded the Professional Development Award (PDA) in Inhalation Sedation for Dental Nurses

The assessments for this qualification are detailed below:

Written Report

The candidate will produce a 1500-word report based on their research into current legislation and professional guidance relating to conscious sedation. The report should identify how the candidate's dental practice complies with legislation/guidance, including staff training and CPD.

Patient Logs

The candidate will complete 10 Inhalation Sedation Patient logs that record their involvement with patients treated under Inhalation Sedation.

All logs must be signed by a clinical supervisor with whom the candidate was assisting with treatment.

Written Assessment

The candidate will complete a closed-book written assessment on outcomes 1, 3, 4, and 5, consisting of multiple-choice, short-answer, and extended-answer questions. The pass mark is 65%.

Simulations

The candidate will complete medical emergency simulations that demonstrate the evidence requirements for outcome 5.

Assessments have been created in line with the Qualification Scotland unit specification 

https://www.sqa.org.uk/files/hn/HT8T35.pdf

Inclusive education is an approach that recognises and values diversity, allowing the diverse learning needs and preferences of individual candidates to be identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity.

We aim to deliver education and training in a way that is inclusive of all candidates, ensuring every candidate has a positive learning experience and outcome.

Public Service Delivery Scotland will actively identify and, where possible, remove barriers and make reasonable adjustments to learning and assessments.

The charge for this course is £135.00, plus the current Qualifications Scotland registration fee of £13.00.  

To apply to undertake the programme, applicants must:

1. Be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), employed and working in a dental environment that regularly treats patients using inhalation sedation, have the support of appropriately skilled and qualified staff and access to the equipment and resources required to complete sedation procedures.
2. Be able to attend every study session and complete all requirements of this qualification within the duration of the programme.
3. Have the support of their workplace to undertake this qualification.

SDCEP Conscious Sedation in Dentistry:  Conscious sedation | Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness

IACSD (Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for Sedation in Dentistry):  IACSD 2020.pdf

NICE:  Sedation in under 19s: using sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

AoMRC (Updated 2021): Safe_sedation_practice_for_healthcare_procedures_update_0521.pdf

Resuscitation Council UK: 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines | Resuscitation Council UK

5th Edition Handbook of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen Sedation, Morris S. Clark and Ann L. Brunick, 2019: ISBN: 978-0323567428

Basic Guide to Dental Sedation Nursing, Nicola Rogers, 2020: ISBN: 9781119525776

Practical Conscious sedation, David Craig and Carole Boyle, 2017: ISBN: 9781786980052

Conscious Sedation for Dentistry, Girdler, Hill & Wilson, 2017: ISBN: 978-1-119-27450-6