Oral Surgery Rotation

I was fortunate enough to meet an elderly patient with leukemia and lymphoma with the most amazing and positive attitude.  She trusted in God to heal her.  While waiting for the oral surgeon, I was asking her multiple questions about her life.  She was so proud of her children and their accomplishments.  She was most enthusiastic about being a grandmother.  She "hates the dentist", but knows the importance of having her oral cavity a safe environment in order to have certain treatment done to facilitate getting her cancer free. 

 

While having multiple teeth extracted, she squeezed my hand to the point where I was in pain, but I let it happen.  When the resident placed gaze in her mouth after the procedure, she wasn't able to talk clearly.  I was giving her post-treatment instructions and gave her a piece of paper with hopeful reminder tips.  She asked me for my pen, unsure of what she was doing, but she wrote "keep your spirit, you was great".  It just goes to show I'm not just performing a job to these people.  This profession encompasses compassion, support, reliance, tolerance, patience, and emotion.  These people need to feel comfort and want to be able to trust their health providers.  She was truly inspiring, sweet, brave and real. I really hope she makes

Perio Rotation

Today I had an interesting experience in the perio rotation.  I was able to complete an AP for a periodontal patient who had received multiple surgeries to restore some attachment loss.  I got to use the ultrasonic for the first time.  I was amazed at its efficiency.  It was a lot easier and more convenient than hand instruments.  I was asked to ultrasonic generally and then fine tune with hand instruments.  This made the job extremely easy and was very time efficient, even with the patient having a plaque free score of 30%.  I had 35 minutes to do an AP.  Though I was a bit nervous, I set to work, the periodontist was in and out to check on me and I slowly became confident with the new instrument.  The doctor gave me positive feedback and told me I was natural. 

I also had an issue with the patient.  The patient was asking me inappropriate questions, asking me for my personal contact information.  This made me uncomfortable.  Though I continued to work on the patient to complete my task, I thought this was highly unfortunate.  I talked to the periodontist and expressed my concerns.  He told me that this is an issue I will have to deal with and should know how to encounter such patients.  He told me I don't have to stand for that and to remind my patients of our professional relationship if this were to happen again.  He documented the incident.  It taught me a lot about myself.  Though I truly do care and want to help patients achieve great oral hygiene as a clinician, there are boundaries and limitations that need to be in check at all times between a patient and clinician.  When these boundaries are crossed, and when I feel uncomfortable performing a task, I need to take action and let individuals what is going on, like the dentist, and that I don't appreciate and will not stand for such behavior from the patient.  Overall it was a great learning experience and i can't wait to visit perio again. 

Rally Day

Rally day was really interesting. I sometimes forget that Richmond is the capital of our state, because I am so busy with school and what-not.  It was fun to look at the architecture and the different buildings.  Unfortunately, I personally did not get to see or personally talk to any delegates or senators, but it was fun to walk around the different buildings to see where their offices are located and to see how busy these people are.  Sitting in on a session was my favorite part.  I was not aware of how many bills get passed a day; I was surprised.  Unfortunately, I was not able to go on the tour, because I was part of the group to last leave the chambers and missed the opportunity.  I would love to explore on a weekend day.

I thought the talking points, or the bills we were advocating were really important and very pertinent to dental hygiene. I think this is an experience every hygienist should experience.