LAST CLINIC DAY EVER!!!!!

Well, there it goes. My time in the WSU clinic and the best part is: I don't ever have to come back here if I don't want to (no offense) I'm just so excited to get out and work for a dentist in a real practice and actually get paid instead of paying. No more scale checks, no more PE's, no more Patient Encounter Forms!!! Just real honest to goodness patient treatment! While all of this is so exciting, I know for a fact there is a lot I'm going to miss...

1.

I've had the most wonderful class of 30 girls to work with and get to know over the past two years. We've worked so hard together to survive this crazy ride and now it's all done... I'm going to miss you all so much! We better keep in touch!

2.

The amazing faculty and staff that helped shape each and every one of us into the successful clinicians we will all become very soon. The professors and instructors that cried with us, that lost many nights sleep while we weren't sleeping because of boards, that laughed at our stupid mistakes and picked us up in the darkest times, while humbling us whenever needed. Thanks to all of you for everything you've done for us!

3.

SCHOOL. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do with all of the free time I'll have not studying anymore... I've had school my ENTIRE life so how am I supposed to up an quit cold turkey??? What about my comfort blanket? What about that great excuse to get out of housework by saying "sorry, but I've just got so many projects and tests right now I really need to focus on my school work." (instead my fiance soon to be husband will be the one pulling off that one!) I'm excited to read but what about learning??? I guess that will never stop. As my wonderful late Grandpa always taught me: Education is an ongoing process throughout life, to end learning is to die inside.

4.

The VA... NOT!!! (sorry, but I'm just not really going to miss braving the storms and traffic at 6:00AM to make it to Salt Lake to clean endless class V patients for free!!!

I hope you all have enjoyed this time as much as I have and I know we're all ready to move on to bigger and better things so let's all charge forth! Don't ever stop learning and progressing (I guess CE courses will help take care of that:) Good luck out there everyone, keep in touch please!!! Congratulations class of 2010

Boards are over, now for: the Last VA Day EVER!!!!

Well, I've passed all my Board Exams (YAY!!!) and now the school year is winding down for me, I've only got two more clinic days after this one and yes, this is a very nice day for me, it is the last time I have to wake up way too freakin early to drive all the way to Salt Lake and clean teeth for free. While, I must admit that this is a great service we provide and I do love being able to actually give the treatment needed without thinking of the financial aspect of things, I'm excited to actually start being paid for the work I do.

This morning, my 8:00AM pt. had to go to the ER due to high BP (200/108!) so I ended up seeing a patient at 9:00AM instead. This patient was a pretty straight forward class V with severe toothbrush abrasion and recession, but there was one little detail that no chart note could have adequately prepared me for: HIM. He had suffered a head injury and had some motor dysfunction because of it, he also had a profoundly decreased social inhibitory response accompanied by short-term memory loss. Therefore, I spent an hour and a half trying to get my instruments into his mouth while dodging all of his compliments and inappropriate statements such as: "No offense, but you have very nice, soft skin." and "It's too bad you're spoken for." and the very worst: "I think I'm going to tickle ya, what would you do then?" He made me very uncomfortable and to make things better, he couldn't remember what he had previously said so he was repeating the same conversations over and over again and made it very difficult to get the cleaning done. I got to hear over and over again about my nice hair, my gentle touch, my inadequate height, and the mole on the right side of my neck. AWKWARD!!! Oh well, this is the career I chose, take the good moments with the bad and I still love my future job!