I was always known for being the ‘chatty’ one at school – the exception being when it came to contributing in class, where I’d make myself as small as possible due to the fear of getting the answer wrong and turning as red as a tomato. I think that’s why I enjoyed working in hospitality. The idle chit-chat when serving customers and clearing away the endless stack of plates suited my friendly, helpful nature.
Early career and personal challenges
It was the beginning of February 2007. I was twenty-three, recently widowed and raising my three-year-old daughter. I had not long met my partner (now husband). Juggling shifts between us, we worked hard to make ends meet. One day, I saw an article in the newspaper, advertising the role of part-time dental nurse (yes – that’s how we used to look for jobs back in the day!). I kept looking back at this advert, reading it over and over again. I wondered: Am I capable? Should I apply? I took a chance and sent in my CV. I was so surprised to get a call asking me to go in for an interview!
First steps in dental nursing
During the interview, I suddenly developed a thirst for knowledge. If I was given a chance, I’d be sure not to waste it, and I would give it everything I had! I was offered the job and was given a start date. I was given the opportunity to study the NVQ Level 3 in Dental Nursing, which involved going to college after work on a Monday evening.
Working part-time, juggling a course and raising a child certainly wasn’t easy. The running into lunchtimes, late finishes, and double-bookings in the diary tested my patience on numerous occasions, and I shed many tears. Sometimes, I wanted to quit and go back to hospitality. But I knew that if I could just stick it out a little longer, I’d see the results.
Achievements and growth
Fast-forward to 2009. I was nursing in the surgery, and the receptionist said, ‘There’s a call for you’. I cleaned down and apprehensively answered the phone. It was my assessor. ‘Congratulations – you’ve passed!’ they told me. The relief washed over me, but mainly I had a sense of achievement. I was so happy that I'd actually passed!
A few years later, I gave birth to my son. When my maternity leave finished, I was ready to return to work. The practice manager asked me if I was interested in furthering my studies with a postgraduate qualification. The thought had never really crossed my mind before, but yet again, it was now all I could think about. I decided I would try radiography. The thought of placing an X-ray film in a patient's mouth actually turned my stomach, but I had to face it if I wanted to pass the course. I had a supportive team around me and fantastic tutors.
Continuing education and career advancement
Once I had gained my qualification, I applied for a position with a private practice. After a few weeks, I was given the role of radiation protection supervisor. The qualification gave me an advantage; it also led me to the lead dental nurse position. I had finally found a job that I enjoyed. No day was ever the same. I had a great relationship with the patients, and the fear that I’d had at the start of my radiography course seemed to be a distant memory. Over the next three years, I completed the following: Certificate in Impression Taking, Introduction to Implants, Implant Treatment Coordinator, and Certificate in Dental Implant Nursing.
Adapting to change and new roles
In 2020, the year of COVID-19, our practice was liquidated. The team and I were devastated to lose our jobs. It was an uncertain time for so many people. Thankfully, months later, a very kind couple bought the practice and reinstated all of our jobs. I was also promoted to practice manager. The knowledge I had gained so far had helped me immensely, but it also came with its challenges: the dreaded PPE with FFP 3 masks and gowns, the aftermath of the liquidation, dealing with confused patients who had to re-register. I realised that some of my nursing skills were transferable into the day-to-day running of the practice, such as knowing how to fix the dental chair or how to deal with a leaking 3-in-1 syringe. I decided to study the Introduction to Practice Management course with DNN. This gave me a structure in terms of what was required for the position and an awareness of how varied each practice manager role can be.
Teaching and ongoing learning
Another year later, whilst scrolling through Facebook, I spotted an advert to become a tutor for a Dental Nurse Implant course. Again, I just couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I applied and was successful. The company allowed me to study for my Level 3 Award in Education and Training. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be tutoring dental nurses.
Cast your net
I try to encourage our team to cast their nets far and wide. You are capable of anything if you have the right mindset. Yes, it's hard work, but if you never try, you’ll never know! I look back to when my daughter was young. I had no future plans until I made that leap of faith. Now, my daughter has recently graduated from university, and I am still studying to this day!
It always seems impossible until it's done.
