The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK's professional association for dental nurses, released the results of their 2020 Salary Survey in March. The survey was conducted online between October and December 2020 and was completed by 1,265 respondents, 99% of whom were female. The Report compares the results of this survey with those of the survey conducted in 2013.

BADN President Jacqui Elsden said 'The 2020 BADN Salary Survey shows that the majority of dental nurses still earn £20k per annum or less [Fig. 1], despite working full time and having been in the profession for more than ten years.

Fig. 1
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Dental nurse salaries in 2013 and 2020

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'From this, they are still expected to pay their own GDC registration fee (51%), CPD costs (50%) and BADN membership (91%), receive no paid time off to complete their CPD requirements (87%) and have no employee benefits (83%). This is obviously why nearly one fifth (16%) have a second job - half of whom have to have a second job to meet their basic living costs.

'Worryingly, 2% are working without indemnity cover, 5% don't know if they have cover and more than half (55%) depend upon their employer's cover!

'The results of the 2020 BADN Salary Survey reinforce BADN's call for dental nurses to be paid a salary which recognises their status as registered dental care professionals, their education, training and qualifications, and their invaluable role in the dental team.'

The full report can be accessed via www.badn.org.uk.