Janna Whitehead

Journal Entry 11

May 7, 2013

By far my biggest accomplishment this semester is finishing clinic! Towards the end of the semester I struggled with trying to meet requirements and I was exceedingly pleased to pass clinic and complete the standards. In doing so, I was able to finish three patients in one day which was a personal achievement that I was able to set for myself. Time management was definitely a struggle for me throughout the semester and I was able to improve this with time. With repeated practice and becoming familiar with the process and paperwork I was able to pick up speed. Proper scaling was another struggle I had towards the beginning of the semester, but again with repeated practice on patients I feel that I am much better than I was when first learning correct instrumentation strokes with various instruments. I found the skill evaluations to be most helpful during the semester. Although I disliked them at the time I now understand their purpose. I feel that with the completion of the skill evaluations I am where I should be as a clinician as far as progression is concerned and through the feedback from the instructors I now know what to improve on. Therefore, this element of clinic is what I disliked in the beginning, but am now very glad I had to complete because it was beneficial. My most enjoyable patient education session was the second patient education session in the patient education room. I was able to explain to my patient how to correctly floss and what periodontal disease is. The patient was not only interested but was more aware of his conditions and what he can do to prevent further damage to his oral situation. The patient was very curious as well when something as simple as flossing was demonstrated, for he had never been properly shown. I could tell upon completion of the session that the patient fully understand his conditions and was willing to utilize what was learned at the clinic at home in his routine homecare. This was rewarding as both a future clinician and prevention specialist. The only modification I can think of to suggest to improve clinic next semester would be possibly adding another instructor. This would help tremendously with first year students who are slow in the beginning and would increase instructor availability for the students. Other than this I thought the pod system worked well this semester and I liked that clinic is set-up so that we may utilize outside clinic days. Another suggestion that may be helpful that was suggested by another student would be each student having 2-4 days outside sterilization time so that all inside clinic time would be utilized toward patient completion.

Janna Whitehead

Journal Entry 10

April 20, 2013

The first day of class this past summer does not seem like that long ago at all. Time has flown by so fast! I remember sitting in a class full of people that I didnt know and now things are so different. Our class is so close and I have made so many friendships that will last a lifetime! Also, thinking back to the first day of the OMG course I would have never believed I would have been dealing with patients in under one years time and so soon. I feel as if I have learned so much information over the past two semesters and I never fully realized how much information a dental hygienist had to know. I can only imagine how much I still have left to learn and am looking forward to what the next two semesters of school have to bring. If it s anything like this past year, it will definitely be a challenge but so rewarding!

Journal Entry 9

April 20, 2013

My most frustrating moment in clinic this semester by far was having patients cancel. Having a patient cancel an appointment can offset an entire week, especially if time is limited. To handle these situations I tried to remain as professional as possible and let the patient know that it could be a while before I can get them in again, for my schedule usually remains booked. To avoid this type of frustration in the future I will try to always have a back-up patient. I tried that this semester but most of my family members live an hour away and it was difficult for them to get to the clinic on such short notice and for me to still have time to work on them by the time they got there. This will definitely prepare me for next semester because knowing what I do now, and how important it is to utilize any and all the time given in clinic, I will avoid cancellation time if at all possible. In the real world of dental hygiene practice cancellation time will also want to be avoided for production time in the office is decreased when patients cancel their appointment. Having a standard cancellation fee in place or notice to call 24 hours in advance will help with this issue of patient cancellation.

Journal Entry 8

April 6, 2013

Treating patients with infectious diseases really does not bother me because I know that universal precautions are used with each patient treated in the dental office regardless of their health history. With that however, I must say that yes my senses would be heightened and I would be even more so cautious when treating these patients. I dont know that I could necessarily do anything to make myself more comfortable with treating these patients other than reminding myself that they too need dental treatment like any other patient and should be treated as such. I do feel that it is our ethical responsibility, as healthcare providers and individuals, to treat patients with infectious diseases for they too are people and should not be defined by their disease. I understand being legally required to treat patients with infectious diseases and agree that they should be able to receive treatment without being turned away. Universal precautions, if being implemented correctly and done one hundred percent of the time, is what allows healthcare providers to protect the patient and themselves in the

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workplace, so being legally required to treat patients with infectious diseases should been seen as no different obligation outside of what is already required of us in treating dental patients.

Journal Entry 7

April 6, 2013

My ultimate goal in presenting oral hygiene education topics to my patients is to have them not only hear the information but take it home and apply it to their everyday routines. Its important to me that each patient realize that positive changes in their oral health habits can have a dramatic effect on their oral and overall health. On a scale from 1 to 10 of importance, the information I discuss with my patients is easily a 10. The information provided in the patient education sessions is for their benefit and could be the difference between losing and keeping their teeth and having improved health. I definitely feel the educational information we provide will make a difference for those who are willing to change their habits and improve their oral conditions, even if there are those few patients who will only brush off the advice they have been given. The patients will only place a high value of importance on the information provided if they see that the educator shows a desire for them to change and genuinely cares about their oral outcome. The only way to make patients place this high value on the information given is to set an example. I, as an educator of oral health, should practice what I am teaching and have a desire to help others improve their oral conditions. This should show in each education session and with each patient I am treating. To encourage them to listen and take advantage of the information presented I will make the information relatable to them. Also, by informing them that I will be looking for changes in their oral habits with each visit I am creating a short term goal that they can reach. Being passionate about what I am teaching them and encouraging them with positive feedback the patient will be more likely to be responsive to the advice given to them.

Journal Entry 6

March 24, 2013

This spring break I did not do a whole lot of anything. I stayed at home mostly and did not travel anywhere, but I enjoyed the break from school to get re-energized and caught up on sleep! That Friday that we got out of school I was able to attend Michaelas beautiful wedding and I really enjoyed being a part of a huge milestone in a classmates life. Also, a big milestone in my life took place that Sunday, March 10 when I was baptized at my church. I have always loved and accepted the Lord Jesus as my Savior but it wasnt until back in December that I had found a church and started to attend regularly. It was over the break that I was able to make that profession publicly. Since joining I have become very active in the churchs programs and was very fortune to help minister to a young single mom. The young lady had just had a baby but did not have a lot of items for the child. I was given the opportunity, along with my sister, to help collect miscellaneous items from those within the church for the young mother. Over spring break we were able to bring the lady these items and talk with her about Jesus. It was a

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very touching event that I was so fortunate to experience! Other than this I did not do much. The last few days of the break I was able to review and re-organize my schedule for the upcoming weeks appointments and re-evaluate what was left to accomplish at school with the time I had remaining in the semester.

Journal Entry 5

March 24, 2013

Upon completion of the patient assessment competency I learned that it is possible to successfully complete all of the paperwork and assessments on a patient within two hours if time is managed properly. I was fortunate in patient selection for my patient had hardly any dental charting and I was able to dedicate more of my time to the periodontal assessment and probing. For the remainder of the time I am in hygiene school I will pay close attention to the patient criteria for future assessments because it is so important to find a patient that will make the already stressful test much easier. From this particular assessment I also learned to pay closer attention to recession and areas of inadequate zones of attached gingiva.

Journal Entry 4

March 1, 2013

I feel that belonging to a professional organization is important. In an organization professional standards are set that allow dental hygienist to better their careers as health care providers and educators. In upholding these standards through membership I would be strengthening my career as a hygienist. Also, being involved in an organization allows members to learn from one anothers experiences to build on their own education. A professional organization should provide for its members educational opportunities as well as inform its members of events that would benefit our growth as a collective body of healthcare providing individuals. Members should be obligated to partake in the educational services provided and provide input as to future improvements within the organization. Having a professional organization established in which membership is offered is very important to the structure of any professional group. Having a foundation to build on is essential to the improvement of any career.

Journal Entry 3

March 1, 2013

When preparing for the emergency simulation day I had expected to be a lot more nervous than I actually was, and I felt as if I would easily forget the information that we had discussed as a class because of the intensity of the situation. However, during the actual scenario I was surprised at how calm I was and what I had remembered from our emergency lectures. The only difficulty I experienced was trying to assess where I was needed once I had brought the emergency cart and oxygen to the scene. I was ready to jump in and help when needed but at the same time I was trying to stay out of the way of the student operator and team leader and just be on stand-by. In doing the emergency scenario I became more familiar with where things are

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located in the emergency cart and from the post-discussion from others I learned that I need to be aware of how the oxygen tank is assembled in case of an actual emergency. Overall, I definitely feel this was a beneficial and worthwhile exercise, and I did feel well prepared! The only thing I could think of to possibly change or suggest would be to watch the other scenarios as they were being acted out that way we, as a class, could provide immediate feedback on what protocols were taken and what to improve on.

Journal Entry 2

February 7, 2013

Up to this point most of my patients have been immediate family members and relatives of my siblings. I have been contacting most of them through phone calls and emails. It hasnt been until recently, however, that I have started scheduling friends. I had made flyers prior to this semester and posted them in my home city, but have not yet received any contacts who are interested. I plan on continuing with flyers but handing them out personally or relocating them to another place. I have not yet contacted any patients from the clinic files, for I have not needed to yet. I have looked through a few files, however, in case I do need to contact a back-up patient. I make sure to inform my patients when I set up the appointment about the importance of being there. I find it very important to let them know that it will be long appointments and that they may have to come back a few times. I notify them 24 hours in advance, to confirm the appointment and I always try to have a back-up in place, just in case. I always arrange to get my patients their paperwork ahead of time, and explain to them the importance of having those with them when they come. When making the appointment, I try to obtain the medical history ahead of time, with the most important information being retrieved: the medications they are taking, any allergies, when their last dental visit was and what treatment was received, and what type of x-rays they have had, if any. I do believe I have stressed the importance of attending all of the appointments to my patients and the need to arrive on time. I make sure it is something they will be able to commit to before I even schedule them. Last, the most important thing to me that I feel I could do to make sure my patients are a walking advertisement for LIT dental hygiene is to treat every appointment with professionalism. It is important to me that I am well educated so that I may educate my patient properly on maintaining good oral hygiene. I hope that with every visit they are receiving high quality treatment, as well as having a great experience and gaining interest in their oral conditions.

Journal Entry 1

January 26, 2013

I really enjoyed my first day of clinic. Before coming to class I expected the necessity of organization and the importance of familiarity with all of the paperwork and procedures we had learned last semester. During the session I was surprised at just how much I had learned. I found myself educating the patient throughout majority of the appointment. However, it wasnt

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until after the appointment that I was able to evaluate the pace of the session. I felt I was very slow in completing certain areas. I hope that with time I become faster and am able to complete the intraoral and extraoral exams, periodontal assessment, and dental charting much more quickly. The reality of this session helped me to understand my exact role in the dental office and the importance of my duty as a prevention specialist and educator, rather than just a hygienist alone. The most valuable lesson I learned on the first day of clinic was communication, with both the patient and dentist, about the patients condition, and time management. I was proud of myself for taking great radiographs and remembering a lot of the terminology that is associated with the intraoral and extraoral exams.