More class 5's

Today in clinic I had 2 more Class 5 patients. My first patient was 20 minutes late and so my heart was just a pumping because I thought she wasn't going to show up. She finally came though and I was able to take x-rays and get 4 quads sclaed. My second patient didn't show up! I was so mad. She was hispanic and only spoke spanish so I had my brother-in-law call her just last night to see if she could come in because my other patient cancelled. Anyway so he talked to her at 5:00 and then she didn't sho up today. So I was way ticked. Luckily, Ashley had double booked patients because her planner got stolen and I was able to see her other patient. So I did get 8 quads of a 5 done today, not a complete loss. The only good thing about that is I am already almost done with my class 2/5 requirements. The bad thing is that I do not have a mockboard patient yet!!!! I am so worried about it. I just can't stop thinking about it. Everyone says it will work out and I will find one but I am not so sure it will. I still feel like I am really slow also. I should be able to get a class 5 done pretty quick but I still take up the whole appointment. I guess both my patients were late today though so I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself.

Week four is over

At the end of week four I am not feeling any better about my situation. I feel like I suck and am the worst student here. Today in clinic guess what I got another 1B, lucky me. Oh and in the afternoon the power went out and I didn't even get to my OD check so I didn't get any scaling. My instructor made me send my patient away and as soon as she left the power came back on and there were a lot of people that got to continue working but unlucky me my patient was already gone. So she could possibly be a 2 but knowing my luck she will be a 1B, but I guess I won't find out until she comes back on October 8. What a waist of a day.

Worried sick!!

This week has been frustrating. I am feeling like I am never going to get all my requirements done. I feel like it is just the luck of the draw, and I am not lucky. I have had no class 3 or 4 patients and only like 2 quads of a two. I don't know what I am suppose to do, I am doing eveything I can but my patients are just healthy. I am worried about not getting a mockboard patient. I feel like everyone else is having great learning experiences with these class 3 and 4 patients and I do not have any experience like that. Today in clinic I had a class2/5 in the morning and in the afternoon I had the easiest 1B patient ever. She was so healthy there was hardly anything to get off. All I have to say is I hope I start getting better luck or my peers start sharing the wealth!

Two Weeks Down

After the second week and the first day of clinic at WSU I am feeling like I am back in the swing of things already. It actually feels like I never left. We had class on Monday and it was a short day so that was neat, we only had our first class because we went to the library and learned how to use the search engines to find articles for our research class. So that is why we did not have our second class. Tuesday and Wednesday were my favorite days of the week because I did not have VA, clinic, or class so I just stayed home and played. Well I really didn't play I worked a lot but I didn't have to drive to Ogden for school so it was fun, but it was really hard to get ready to go back to school after such a long break during the week. Then on Thursday I was pretty nervous to see my first patients of the year at WSU clinic. I had a class 5 and a class 1B, I was able to get both of them done OD and all. Neither of them needed x-rays though so I didn't get any of those done. I was kind of frustrated at the end of the day though because there were several people that found mock board patients already!! I am already feeling like I am behind!! Oh well, it was a good first clinic and I got 8 quads doen so I guess I can't complain. Oh and Friday was my ultimate favorite day of the week, we got our syringes out for the first time and put them to use. We got to practice on CHICKEN LEGS!!! It was super fun. we practiced aspirating in "bloody water" okay it was just water that was colored red but it was actually really great to be able to see how little we had to pull back to get the positive aspiration. We then stabbed the chicken legs, practiced aspirating on them and then injected them with lidocaine. I'm pretty sure if my chicken were alive his leg would probably still be numb, I think I gave him 4 carps!!!! I had a great time and it was very educational as well, double bonus! Anyway, now I am at the end of week two and this weekend is Labor Day weekend so I am looking forward to a long fun weekend.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Back to school., back to school. So we started school up again this week. And let me say that the only positive thing about it is the sooner we get started the sooner we will be done. No just kidding, I am not looking forward to all the stress, tests, finding patients, projects, and not to mention boards. I am really excited however to be back with all my friends in my class and all the super fun faculty. My week started out a little on the scary side. Well Monday we had class and that actually went really well. We had our first quiz and I didn't do too terrible. It was Tuesday that was scary. I hadn't picked up and instrument all summer long and I had VA clinic starting on Tuesday!!! I was scared to death. We showed up to the VA and had our orientation and then at 9:30 we saw our first patient. I was sure that I would get an ornery old man that needed security with him at all times so he wouldn't hurt anyone. Well, as it turned out, I had two patients and they were both fantastic patients, I was able to take a set a of bitewings, a pano, and I got 4 quads scaled. It turned out to be an awesome day. Diane Rosner was so helpful and nice, she made it a really great experience. Professor McConaughy was also there and what can I say about her, she is amazing. She makes me feel so much better about myself and about my skills. I just love her. So the day was really productive and I can tell already I'm going to love the days I go there. It was so nice just to show up and have patients there, I loved it. After the VA on Wednesday I had the day off and it was quite nice to have a break in the middle of the week. Then Thursday was a fun filled day at WSU clinic. We had orientation all day long. It was quite a long day. We organized our instruments, went over emergency preparedness and first aid stuff, got to get the feel of the chair again by practicing on our partners(probing, exploring, etc), got to watch some super fun videos on HIPPA, Infection control and sharpening, then got to pass off our first PE of the year, instrument sharpening. It was a long day but it was nice to ease back in the saddle again. Today is Friday and I am so happy. We had our Dental Med class and we didn't have the lab so Dr Naylor started our Dental Materials class early so we got out early and no one was complainig about that. Our first week is now over!!!!

BABY KEITH BRUSHING HIS TEETH

This is my super cute nephew, Keith, brushing his teeth. He is using the toothbrush I gave him, I am so proud. He is only 9 months old and doing so good already, it must be because of is aunt!!!

FINALLY DONE!!!!

Today in clinic I finally got my requirements done! I was so worried that my patient was not going to show up because I tried calling him the day before several times and his phone number would not work. I was not able to get ahold of him to remind him so I was worried sick. This morning I was so relieved when the CA called over the intercom and said my patient was there. I shouted for joy. I then was able to start scaling away. I got a scale check on the first quad and I did miss a few spots. After those were finished I moved on to the lower quads. It was a great experience because I have never seen so much calculus. There was a ton! It extended subgingivally and it turned dark green/black under the gingiva. It was really cool to be able to just pop it all right off. I did miss several spots on tne lower anteriors but I know for a fact that I got a TON off. I was really proud of myself. It was a long appointment partly because my patient was kind of mean and ornery and was not into small talk at all. He was there for business only no talking. He also started coughing evertime I tried to use the ultrasonic sclaer so I had to stop using that and only use my hand scalers. That made me realize how valuable the ultrasonic is to me. It helps tremendously! Well, anyway I was able to get him done and not a moment too soon. I think my patient was about to leave whether I was finished or not because he said "I can't take much more of laying like this". Like I said, he was an not a very pleasant person. Well I am finally done and that is all that matters. I have been waiting for summer break for a long time, I am finally free for a few months!