The end of being a Dental Hygiene Student.
The competency of applying a professional code of ethics is significant to me now that I have finished this program, because now I fully understand that I need to keep this close to me when looking for a job in private practice or within a company. I have found out that a lot of jobs can cause you to question your code of ethics and everything I have learned from this program teaches me and has made me realize if there is anything you should never let go of it is your ethics in all endeavors when it comes to your patient and yourself. I feel as though applying a code of ethics in all endeavors is a strength for me because I always make sure I don't do anything to jeopardize my patients well being in any way. I always try to practice beneficence when it comes to anything that has to do with my patient's well being. This competency has shaped me as an RDH because now I can assure my patients that I wouldn't ever give them any false information or put them in harms way. I will apply this competency in private practice by giving my patient as much education about any procedure or oral health questions they may present to me.
The competency of assuming responsibility for dental hygiene actions and care based on accepted scientific theories and research as well as the accepted standard of care means that I must always have a professional understanding of anything that I am referring to my patients as far as appliances, or oral hygiene regimens. I feel as though this competency is a weakness for me because instead of reading research for a product I am more likely to rely on a word of mouth professional opinion instead of a professional research journal that would be more reliable. I can turn this weakness into a strength by reading professional reviews and research on a product or regimen before referring it to a patient to try out. I can also try products myself to have a better understanding of how they might taste or work before referring something to my patient. This competency has shaped me as an RDH because now I have a better understanding of why actions and care based on accepted scientific theories and research could better benefit my patient rather than something less professional as word of mouth advice. I can apply this competency in private practice by keeping current with educational courses and reading professional journals and articles on products and regimens to have a better understanding of the things I am referring to my patients to try out.
The competency of performing self-assessment for lifelong learning and professional growth has taught me that by doing self-assessments I can grow as a hygienist and fix any problems I had during my self-assessment. I feel as though this competency was a strength for me because I take criticism well and I like to know my weaknesses and problems so that I can fix them and grow as a professional. This competency has shaped me into a better RDH by providing lifelong learning and professional growth. I will continue this competency during private practice by performing self-assessments throughout my professional journey to keep learning and growing.
The competency of communicating effectively with individuals and groups from diverse populations both verbally and in writing is important to me because I feel like now that I have completed the program I have a more diverse understanding of different populations. This competency is a strength for me because I love learning about different cultures and populations. It gives me a better understanding of cultures I might not have fully understood unless I had a educational discussion with them. This competency has shaped me as an RDH because now when I am in private practice I can communicate more effectively with different cultures I might encounter. I will continue this competency throughout my career as an RDH by always listening and learning about any diverse population I might come into contact with.
Promoting the values of oral and general health and wellness to the public and organizations within and outside the profession has taught me that there are a lot of people of the general public that really don't have a true understanding of how important oral health is to their overall health. This competency is a strength for me because when I have discussions with my patients that might not have a good understanding of why oral health education is so important to their overall health I can adequately educate them. This competency has shaped me as an RDH by giving me the education I need to properly teach my patients the importance of oral hygiene as it relates to their overall health and wellness. I will continue this competency is private practice by questioning my patients on their oral and overall health and always following up with any education topics I might have for them to help them better understand any questions they might have.
Evaluating and utilizing methods to ensure the health and safety of the patient and the dental hygienist in the delivery of dental hygiene has taught me that I always need to apply a standard of care and precaution for myself and my patient for overall safety. This competency is a strength for me because I have learned throughout this program to always utilize standard of care procedures to protect my self and my patients. I have utilized these methods by always providing my patient with safety glasses when in my chair, having them rinse with antimicrobial mouth rinse before each appointment, placing a lead apron on them when taking radiographic images, and taking vitals at each appointment as well. This competency has shaped me into an RDH by teaching me how important these procedures and precautions are to myself and my patient. I will continue this competency throughout my career by always utilizing these methods to ensure the health and safety of my patient and myself in the delivery of dental hygiene care.
The competency of assuming responsibility for dental hygiene actions and care based on accepted scientific theories and research as well as the accepted standard of care means that I must always have a professional understanding of anything that I am referring to my patients as far as appliances, or oral hygiene regimens. I feel as though this competency is a weakness for me because instead of reading research for a product I am more likely to rely on a word of mouth professional opinion instead of a professional research journal that would be more reliable. I can turn this weakness into a strength by reading professional reviews and research on a product or regimen before referring it to a patient to try out. I can also try products myself to have a better understanding of how they might taste or work before referring something to my patient. This competency has shaped me as an RDH because now I have a better understanding of why actions and care based on accepted scientific theories and research could better benefit my patient rather than something less professional as word of mouth advice. I can apply this competency in private practice by keeping current with educational courses and reading professional journals and articles on products and regimens to have a better understanding of the things I am referring to my patients to try out.
The competency of performing self-assessment for lifelong learning and professional growth has taught me that by doing self-assessments I can grow as a hygienist and fix any problems I had during my self-assessment. I feel as though this competency was a strength for me because I take criticism well and I like to know my weaknesses and problems so that I can fix them and grow as a professional. This competency has shaped me into a better RDH by providing lifelong learning and professional growth. I will continue this competency during private practice by performing self-assessments throughout my professional journey to keep learning and growing.
The competency of communicating effectively with individuals and groups from diverse populations both verbally and in writing is important to me because I feel like now that I have completed the program I have a more diverse understanding of different populations. This competency is a strength for me because I love learning about different cultures and populations. It gives me a better understanding of cultures I might not have fully understood unless I had a educational discussion with them. This competency has shaped me as an RDH because now when I am in private practice I can communicate more effectively with different cultures I might encounter. I will continue this competency throughout my career as an RDH by always listening and learning about any diverse population I might come into contact with.
Promoting the values of oral and general health and wellness to the public and organizations within and outside the profession has taught me that there are a lot of people of the general public that really don't have a true understanding of how important oral health is to their overall health. This competency is a strength for me because when I have discussions with my patients that might not have a good understanding of why oral health education is so important to their overall health I can adequately educate them. This competency has shaped me as an RDH by giving me the education I need to properly teach my patients the importance of oral hygiene as it relates to their overall health and wellness. I will continue this competency is private practice by questioning my patients on their oral and overall health and always following up with any education topics I might have for them to help them better understand any questions they might have.
Evaluating and utilizing methods to ensure the health and safety of the patient and the dental hygienist in the delivery of dental hygiene has taught me that I always need to apply a standard of care and precaution for myself and my patient for overall safety. This competency is a strength for me because I have learned throughout this program to always utilize standard of care procedures to protect my self and my patients. I have utilized these methods by always providing my patient with safety glasses when in my chair, having them rinse with antimicrobial mouth rinse before each appointment, placing a lead apron on them when taking radiographic images, and taking vitals at each appointment as well. This competency has shaped me into an RDH by teaching me how important these procedures and precautions are to myself and my patient. I will continue this competency throughout my career by always utilizing these methods to ensure the health and safety of my patient and myself in the delivery of dental hygiene care.