CA at the VA :)

Being a CA is a relief ... Until... they ask you to see a patient! Don't get me wrong, I like seeing patients, but sometimes when you come thinking all you'll be doing is charting and running little errands, it throws you off.

Then when your patient is a retired dentist who doesn't want to play hygiene games, it throws you off even more.

Thank goodness for amazing miss Connie Sliwinski! She was fabulous and I learned a bunch from her!! I'm excited to work with her next semester as my VA faculty! I enjoy working with people I haven't before because I gain yet another perspective of what dental hygiene means to a hygienist.

Discouraging & Happy All At Once...

My patient today was really challenging in many ways...

*My pt. had pockets that were so deep that even the Dr. agreed we would need to lay a flap just to clean them.

*The pt. had about had enough

*Didn't tolerate the ultrasonic well

*Was a bit emotional over the circumstances

Basically I felt like a failure, but Professor Hanson is MARVELOUS and knows just what to say so that you realize it was a difficult patient and situation, but so that you can maintain some pride. Just when I thought I might cry about it I realized that I WAS FINISHED with my class III's and clinic for the semester!! Can't cry about that!

Clinic this semester has been really good. I feel like I've definitely come a VERY long way since last year and I'm happy about it! Thanks to some awesome faculty and students I've hung in there with a minimal amount of stress this semester. . . I just went on the notion that everyone kept telling me ("it will work out") and kept on keeping on. And guess what?! IT WORKED!!

My Favorite Patients

Are at the VA

So many stories.

So many backgrounds.

Interesting mouths.

Interesting medical histories.

Lots of joke-sters.

Super nice.

I really have loved my patient interaction with those at the VA. I have so many favorites there! It's truly great to try to relate with every patient I come in contact with! People are really interesting, and I love to listen. That's what I've learned. I could listen to people--their lives, their stories, everything.. all day!

Requirements are coming along. I still need to finish my III's, but I found another patient who is darling and reliable. I think I'll finish! Awesome :)

Bummer..

So, my class III experience came back to finish one quad, and had to be turned away due to medical concerns.  Sad for both parties, but will be rescheduled for later to finish.... I just need to find one more III. Just one. Is that so much to ask?! haha... well, actually, it might be, but I'd really feel much better if it worked out quickly.

On a side note.  This morning I had a new patient 1B come in and I finished her in about an hour and 15 minutes and saw an already diagnosed class II at 10:00 to scale, polish, & Fluoride.  Finished everything.

I was proud. 

Only a few more clinic sessions....

Good & Bad.

GLORIOUS!

I finally got some Class III quads done! Wahoo. Relief. From zero to three! Woot. So I only finished 3 quads, but that's still good. I only had one error in three quads. And my time was under the time for a III! Anyway, I hope to find another one as awesome, but I may have high hopes!

LOST & FOUND

I FOUND ONE!
Today I found a class III patient. Cool, huh? I'll do what I can next time on him. For now, I'll keep screening...

Screen, screen, screen.

It's really all I do. Maybe I should take x-rays. Or do PE's?

Nah, I'll stick to screeeening :)

MOCKBOARDS

We had our "mockboard" exam on Thursday. I learned lessons...

1. Some patients calculus feels like rock cemented to tooth
2. When calculus is like rock, you just run out of time
3. Anesthetic is really fun to give
4. Sometimes your professor tells you your patient had TOO MUCH calculus

5.  You shouldn't use those patients

I had four calculus errors and no other errors, but honestly, I felt like I would have more errors because there was NO WAY I was getting all of that off in the time, plus anesthesia time.

I went in thinking it would be alright, but as I started removing deposit (or trying to) I realized I would be short on time.  EEK.  Anyway, I think next time, I'll find a patient with build up, but who has had a cleaning before in their lifetime. 

Good experience. I lived.