Monday felt like we had never left. All but one teacher we had last semester, so they more or less picked up where we left off, but with new material. The new teacher we've seen around before, but she mostly teaches second year stuff. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are 8-5! I thought Mondays were rough last semester, but this semester we have four classes! So, we have to prepare for four quizzes, and do all the reading/homework/etc just for Monday. Tuesday is a half day, so that shouldn't be too bad. Only two classes, but back to back. Wednesday and Thursday we get to go to both schools, so lots of driving and little time between. Friday is our other half day, only clinic in the morning! Did I mention that several times this semester we will have seminars and at least three times we have to stay at clinic until 8 on Thursday? Fun fun! But we do get to do things with kids and go to other places a couple times too!
The first two hour class on Tuesday morning was rougher than all day Monday. The teacher was going over what will be required of us in clinic this semester. STRESS overload. I wanted to walk out right there. That night I was talking (whining) to Roby about it. He told me that it will be ok and to just get the job done. I didn't like to hear it, but I needed to hear it. There are massive amounts of presentations, homework assignments, tests, quizzes, skills tests, bringing our own patients in, mastering clinic skills, but...thousands have done it before me, I am perfectly capable of doing it too!
In clinic on Wednesday we had some tours and practiced on each other for a bit as it had been a month since we'd used our instruments. Yesterday we had a second year student "demonstrate" how an appointment would go. They walked us through it all as if we were the patient. We asked all kinds of questions! It was REALLY helpful!!! Then today that same second year was OUR patient and we were the clinician! Yesterday after class as we were leaving several of my classmates were complaining that they weren't ready. Last semester I felt that way the whole time. I don't know if this is going to last, but I want to at least start this way! I told them that they need to stop stressing and jump in. We're all doing it, the second years were in our shoes last year, and to try to have some fun with it! I didn't think about it at all last night besides looking at the appointment sequence a few times to prepare myself. Went to bed before midnight (I had to get some homework done!), and went to school with a smile! This is also a hard thing for me to do in the morning! ;-)
As we started the appointment our instructor walked by and said, "I really don't want to stress you out, but we'd really like you to get to the RDH check today." (RDH = registered dental hygienist) We have all kinds of steps, sequences, and instructor checks throughout the appointment before we can move on, its great. :-) I tried really hard to not stress at that point!
I decided to not think about what the instructors wanted from us, or what they were doing. I wanted to learn from the second year student and get as much done as I could today. I was the first one to sign up for a start check after going over the medical and dental history. I had the instructor go over that information with me and give me the ok to continue. I disclosed to look for plaque, did a few other things, probed the teeth (where about half the class stopped for the day), explored the teeth to feel for calculus, charted everything, filled out computer papers and paper papers, had the instructor come do the RDH check, AND had the DDS exam!!! I was the ONLY one that got that far! I was doing everything correctly too! :-)
After class the main instructor even told me that my cluster instructor told her that I was doing really well, had great posture, instrumentation and could tell I had practiced over break! A fabulous way to start the semester, especially after Tuesday!!!
I think I need to continue going into clinic with a relaxed attitude and an attitude that I know what I'm doing so I'll do well!
Ethan has a basketball game tomorrow morning at 9, I'll be doing homework from about 10:30 on for the rest of the weekend...This semester will be much worse than last for the homework load. I have a presentation that is due Monday already. Another due in three weeks...If I don't write/post on here you know why! Same goes for phone calls and emails! ;-)
Kind of random side note. Natalie keeps asking me if the Tooth Fairy is real or if its "every ones mom and dad." I ask her what she thinks and why. She says that some of her friends say its the mom and dad, and that she thinks is me because she gets stickers and I know she likes stickers, but she doesn't know because how would I get her tooth without her knowing. I have hinted toward letting her know that its me...but haven't told her. Just because I was curious, and she asked me AGAIN after we picked Ethan up from basketball practice, I asked him what he thought. He said, "I think there is a Tooth Fairy!" I asked him why. He said, "Because that's what I think and I don't know why there wouldn't be." I honestly don't think he's given it much thought! He just goes with the flow of it while she is analyzing every angle of how and why and maybe the Tooth Fairy could be. Next Christmas should be fun...
The first two hour class on Tuesday morning was rougher than all day Monday. The teacher was going over what will be required of us in clinic this semester. STRESS overload. I wanted to walk out right there. That night I was talking (whining) to Roby about it. He told me that it will be ok and to just get the job done. I didn't like to hear it, but I needed to hear it. There are massive amounts of presentations, homework assignments, tests, quizzes, skills tests, bringing our own patients in, mastering clinic skills, but...thousands have done it before me, I am perfectly capable of doing it too!
In clinic on Wednesday we had some tours and practiced on each other for a bit as it had been a month since we'd used our instruments. Yesterday we had a second year student "demonstrate" how an appointment would go. They walked us through it all as if we were the patient. We asked all kinds of questions! It was REALLY helpful!!! Then today that same second year was OUR patient and we were the clinician! Yesterday after class as we were leaving several of my classmates were complaining that they weren't ready. Last semester I felt that way the whole time. I don't know if this is going to last, but I want to at least start this way! I told them that they need to stop stressing and jump in. We're all doing it, the second years were in our shoes last year, and to try to have some fun with it! I didn't think about it at all last night besides looking at the appointment sequence a few times to prepare myself. Went to bed before midnight (I had to get some homework done!), and went to school with a smile! This is also a hard thing for me to do in the morning! ;-)
As we started the appointment our instructor walked by and said, "I really don't want to stress you out, but we'd really like you to get to the RDH check today." (RDH = registered dental hygienist) We have all kinds of steps, sequences, and instructor checks throughout the appointment before we can move on, its great. :-) I tried really hard to not stress at that point!
I decided to not think about what the instructors wanted from us, or what they were doing. I wanted to learn from the second year student and get as much done as I could today. I was the first one to sign up for a start check after going over the medical and dental history. I had the instructor go over that information with me and give me the ok to continue. I disclosed to look for plaque, did a few other things, probed the teeth (where about half the class stopped for the day), explored the teeth to feel for calculus, charted everything, filled out computer papers and paper papers, had the instructor come do the RDH check, AND had the DDS exam!!! I was the ONLY one that got that far! I was doing everything correctly too! :-)
After class the main instructor even told me that my cluster instructor told her that I was doing really well, had great posture, instrumentation and could tell I had practiced over break! A fabulous way to start the semester, especially after Tuesday!!!
I think I need to continue going into clinic with a relaxed attitude and an attitude that I know what I'm doing so I'll do well!
Ethan has a basketball game tomorrow morning at 9, I'll be doing homework from about 10:30 on for the rest of the weekend...This semester will be much worse than last for the homework load. I have a presentation that is due Monday already. Another due in three weeks...If I don't write/post on here you know why! Same goes for phone calls and emails! ;-)
* * * * * * * * * *
Kind of random side note. Natalie keeps asking me if the Tooth Fairy is real or if its "every ones mom and dad." I ask her what she thinks and why. She says that some of her friends say its the mom and dad, and that she thinks is me because she gets stickers and I know she likes stickers, but she doesn't know because how would I get her tooth without her knowing. I have hinted toward letting her know that its me...but haven't told her. Just because I was curious, and she asked me AGAIN after we picked Ethan up from basketball practice, I asked him what he thought. He said, "I think there is a Tooth Fairy!" I asked him why. He said, "Because that's what I think and I don't know why there wouldn't be." I honestly don't think he's given it much thought! He just goes with the flow of it while she is analyzing every angle of how and why and maybe the Tooth Fairy could be. Next Christmas should be fun...
2 comments:
Im proud of you for being on top of your stuff. Good job. You just have to relax obviously. Go you, way to "get the job done".
this is priceless.
i should comment more, am out here reading and REALLY appreciate these life updaters.
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