Clinical Board!!!

I was so lucky to have my sweet mother-in-law as my patient. She came and slept at my house the night before, even though she wouldn't be there until 12:30 in the morning.  I was so worried because Maren and I had no back-up patient.  We were the only ones on Friday morning and I was scared that one of ours would not qualify and we would be stuck with no patient.  Maren called me later the night before and had found one!  Took a huge load off my mind!
We got there and luckily Maren was right next to me.  Helped me relax just knowing she was there.  I signed in as quick as I could.  The chief examiner checked my paperwork and I sent her back to be checked behind the curtain with the other examiners.  She was gone for an hour and 15 minutes.  I was sure she hadn't qualified.  Maren's was also gone forever.  We were so so nervous.  They both came back and our first submissions qualified!
I have never cleaned so fast in my life.  On the mockboards I felt like I had a huge surplus of time.  I sat and rested my hands for a half hour at the last mockboard.  I couldn't believe how different it was in the real test.  I looked up and had half an hour left!  I quickly probed and rechecked everything.  It was crazy how fast time went.  I turned her in with about 3 minutes left.
Now we just have to wait for the results!

I am so grateful I chose to go to Weber.  I talked to many girls from other programs and they just were not as well prepared.  Every single one of our girls had their first submission accepted.  I think that is a real testament to our instructors.  I am so grateful for them.  

LA Clinical Board!!!

IT IS OVER!!!  It's a little surreal that the thing I have been anticipating/dreading for 2 full years now is finally over.  I have been eating, breathing, living boards for two solid months now.  I can't believe all the trash you have to go through to be a dental hygienist.  It's a little bit much.  I am so excited to get to be a real person again.
The clinical fun started durning "Spring Break"  which was actually not a break at all.  I did homework, my mentor shadowing, paniked, and organized paperwork and instruments for the first three days.  Then on Thursday was all of our Local Anesthetic clinicals.
I was a little nervous for them because I have done a grand total of ONE other IA injection this semester, and it was my mockboard, which I failed.  Yes, I was very nervous.  But I studied my little tush off and had my mom come in to practice angles with a Q-tip so I figured that whatever was going to happen was going to happen.  I was as prepared as I felt I could be without practice.
I had one of the later times for the test.  I was not scheduled until 2:15pm.  After orientation at 7:30am I went home because I couldn't handle the stress of everyone else going.  I was very productive and wrote my mentor paper and then watched some of Pride and Prejudice, my go-to show.  Then I headed back to the school about noon to see how far ahead they were.
The examiner came in and got me about 12:30 and told me I could go set up my unit and I would start my test after they got back from lunch at 1:10.  I went and set up my unit.  Emotions were crazy back there.  People who had not passed the first time were preparing for their second attempt.
When the examiner got back I brought my wonderful mother back and was chit chatting with her until the other examiner was ready.  She was all friendly and smiles.  As soon as the other examiner got there and the test began it was a total change of atmosphere.  All smiles were gone.  It was extremely unnerving.  But I was confident.
I did the IA without any incidence.  I slid right in, in the exact right spot thanks to my mothers perfect landmark triangle and anatomy.  It went smooth as butter.  Then to the PSA.  My confidence was so high.  I had my hard one out of the way and it went perfectly.  I could do the PSA in my sleep.
I went to the PSA, got in the right position, and started.  I immediately hit osseous.  They began the countdown, literally.  We have three attempts when we have hit osseous before it becomes an automatic fail.  I repositioned and again, immediately hit osseous.  I heard them say "third and final attempt."  I started to get really really nervous, confidence was wavering.  I repositioned and it slide right in.  Perfect angle, everything was great.
The examiners said they needed to go behind the curtain and talk.  My confidence was soaring.  I knew I had passed, I was ecstatic.  They came back and told me that they needed to see the PSA on the left side.  I had no idea why but I said okay and repositioned.
I retracted my mom's cheek and brought the needle into position.  Immediately the examiner behind me yelled, I mean literally yelled, "Stop and hold!  You just touched the needle to your glove!"  My heart sunk.  I didn't think I had touched it.  They left to go talk behind the curtain.  I was close to tears.  Touching your glove without noticing is an automatic fail.  A 120 dollar mistake and a chance I might not get licensed that day.  I was on an emotional ride.  I was mentally preparing for them to come back and tell me to go get my backup patient.  Even my mom was close to tears at this point.
They walked back to me and said to get a new setup and do the left side again.  My only explanation is that one examiner saw that I hadn't touched my glove.  I did the injection again.  My confidence was shattered by this point.  It didn't go that well.  I was sure I had failed.
I didn't even break down my unit until after I got my paper because I was so sure I had failed.  I talked to Jodie.  She felt the same way.  When I walked out and pulled the paper out, the pink one that meant I passed, I just broke down.
That was intense.

Mentor Shadowing

I have finished both of my mentor shadowing assignments.  I found it so helpful that I contacted my hygienist friend and went and shadowed her just for fun too.  I really really liked getting to talk to so many people in the real world.  I had a variety of hygienists, some with 23 years of experience and some with 2.  It was nice to know that they felt as inadequate as I do.  I love seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and knowing that this time will pass.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in this program.  I have had amazing, incredible teachers and peers.  I have met some of the most dedicated and kind people that I hope I will always be able to stay in contact with.  I know I will miss this time after it is over but shadowing made me so so excited to get out into private practice.  As I was watching them, I kept thinking that "hey, I can do that, and I could do a really good job at it."  I am still so nervous about the first week in private practice and the adjustment that comes with that but I am so excited for it as well.  I think that I have gotten such a wonderful education that can really help me to make a difference in people's lives, through their mouths haha.  All of the hygienists I shadowed did a really good job, and all of them did it their own way and with their own style.  I hope I can find a dentist that lets me keep my own style.  Yeah for hygiene.  Now if only I can finish jumping through all these hoops to get there!
Tomorrow the clinical fun begins.  Wish me luck!

Weirdest Day of Clinic Ever

Today half of the girls didn't have patients, and no one cared the least bit.  I had a sweet older couple come in the morning.  The wife didn't know she needed to pre-med so we got to hang out and have some quality chat time for quite a while.  Then MeChel was kind enough to see her while I saw her husband so we could still get them both done.  I love you MeChel.
In the afternoon I purposely scheduled my aunt so that I could finish fast and have my mom come in to practice angles for the LA clinical next week.  So glad I did.  I might stand a fighting chance next week.  Still mostly terrified but it will come regardless.  When I was stood up after to walk them out I realized there was only one other person in the clinic with a patient.  And I finish an hour and a half early.  Awesome.  You can tell that boards are upon us.  Bring it on.

Last CA ever!!!

Today I had my last CA ever.  Never again will I have to try to organize the unorganizable.  I went out with a bang.  MeChel had no patient for the afternoon and it was awesome.  What a way to end it.

Last sealant clinic of my educational career

I have really enjoyed the sealant clinics but I must say that it will be oh so awesome to have a Friday off finally!  I tried my loupes today for the first time.  Probably not my best idea ever.  Wiggly kid + new magnification that is difficult to get used to = massive headache.  I hope I can figure these darn things out.

Sister-in-law

Today was so much fun getting to clean my sister-in-law.  Only downside?  I forgot my darn loupes.  I got them last night and was so excited to try them out.  They were sitting in my living room not being used the entire time.  How aggravating.  I never get to spend time with my sister-in-law so I had a blast getting to chat with her.  And now she has cleaner than clean teeth.  Check and check.