Am I an Effective Dental Nurse/Assistant

AM I AN EFFECTIVE DENTAL ASSISTANT?

How it is to be an effective Dental Assistant?

Sometimes we are wondering why some people excel at their work, other bounce and feel unfulfilled. I am not a dentist or a dentistry graduate either, but for me learning is a habit and those who valued the practice will gain more effectiveness in the future. These are what we need to learn as I learned…

1. BE PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE

As a Dental Assistant learn to have control over work and yourself. We are working as part of a team but we work for someone else. Don’t be confused or else you will fall into the trap of feeling that you don’t have control over work. A proactive assistant is the one who takes responsibility of his/her choices, it does empowers a person. Proactivity meansbalance and having confidence to make choices between self and others. 

On the other hand, acting afterward instead of before is the opposite which is called reactive or passive. They are the one who always rely on others dependents on the circumstances around them. Passive person say things such “I cant do that” or “I don’t have a choice”. These are the people who blame others for their own choices and mistakes. 

Don’t be a reactive Dental Assistant letting others control your life instead, be a proactiveone and have a confidence to make choices even peers may not agree because you yourself are responsible person.

2. PRIORITIZE “Put First Things First”

Remember equilibrium is a balance, a highly effective dental assistant knows that life balance is important to overall health and has the ability to say NO. Make decisions based on your values and priorities. There is no guilt and conflict about the right choice. Those people who doesn’t know how to say NO are always stress and tired of doing nothing because their attitude is to accept too many things but not doing it all well (pretentious) and the outcome is neglecting the aspects of their life such as physical or emotional well being or even their family as well. Set boundaries and know your limits at work!

3. BE OPTIMISTIC THINK WIN-WIN

We work as a team environment, but most of the time some become territorial, catty or focused on production instead of patients. This become a win-lose situation doesn’t it? 

Our viewpoint should always be positive (optimistic) we need to see the situation as “we can all get what we want” instead of trying to win, a highly effective dental assistant looks for agreement and solutions. For us to do this, we have to be true to our feelings and values and be able to express them with consideration of others and believe that everyone can win.Don’t focus only on one side but take the other side as well. “Positive Attitudes In Negative Situations” (PAINS)

4. EMPATHIZE “Understand and be Understood”

Good communication skills is a part of our work, but it can a bit tangled up sometimes. Willing to put the needs of other (especially the patient) ahead of our own is a profession of service and professional ethics as well.

Engaged to listen empathetically to patients, doctors or coworker and increased the ability to really understand the point of view and feelings, it is easy to think that if we let themknow we understand it means we agree with them but that’s not the case always. As dental assistant we always put ourself in the patient shoes and feel what the patient could possibly feel in different situation. Some patient may act rude to you or sensitive but we empathize instead of sympathizing them because for patients, assistants need to have a lot of patience and understanding in every situation ahead. 

5. COLLABORATE, TEAMWORK “SYNERGY”

Opportunity to work synergistically in dentistry, one must be open to others suggestions and new solutions. Synergy means working together to create a result not obtainable by one person. Amazing concept but it can be more exciting when applied at work tandem between doctors and dental assistants. Most of the time doctors and assistants thinks opposite, they have different attitude at work and states different opinions as well. Mostly because it is their pride that they are doctor and we are their assistant only. It requires the understanding that being different is good and because of those differences we will come up with different outcome together as well to collaborate with such differences as a team the solutions and ideas are better in terms of dental practice too.

6. BE FRESH AND SHARP

Pamper yourself and challenge yourself! Dental assistant work more effectively when we are fresh and sharp. Physically eat better, exercise, and take a good rest. Socially spend time with family and relationships. Spiritually meditate, spend time in nature, appreciate arts and pray. Ask yourself, am I taking responsibility of my choices? Am I consciously aware of my priorities, values and beliefs? Am I effective at work? Am I working with balance? If you answer those then don’t think twice because you are fresh and sharp and highly effective Dental Assistant.

Dental assisting is not for the faint of heart. If you have determination you will go far. There will be some tough days, but those who are dedicated know how to strike in and stride. Lending an ear is essential and we know how to be a calming presence, though sometimes dental assistant works long hours with few breaks, but we find it rewarding being a people person. Dental assistant says “They do it all— and often “They do it all at the same time” so when people are made for a job their skill becomes a HABIT…