My question is...

When are we going to have time to practice these more difficult tasks besides the day that we are introduced? I feel like the hour in clinic that I had to practice with the probe and explorer were so great but I was just starting to get comfortable at the very end. I really really need to still practice (not just on the typodont because that is so much more different than a real human mouth). Besides me feeling like I'm not quite up to speed on everything yet... I love clinic! It is so fun to finally do all those things that I've watch the hygienist do all these years! I love feeling like I can finally start to help.
My poor podmate! I think I would have been terrified to be her the way my shakey hand was coming at her mouth with a sharp instrument! Twice as terrified because she knew I was going to take that instrument below her gums! She is so great! I didn't hurt her and I feel like my touch is getting lighter and my understanding of adapting to the tooth is getting better. I really hope that I get a lot more time to practice before I actually have to see a patient... or pass off a PE! Oh! This could be bad! The probing PE could be the first one I don't pass.

323...323...312

My goal for clinic today was to make it through clinic without sending somebody to the hospital! We probed our partners today and it was pretty scary. I did well as far as the numbers were concerned but I was not near as gentle as I needed to be! I'm having a hard time feeling when I've hit the bottom of the sulcus. I'm just glad that my pod-pal didn't cry! ;0) I just need to practice! I think I've said that in almost everyy entry but that what will make me better. I'm more confident with those things that I said I needed to practice with before... so, I guess thing are going well.

...floating.

So I had a touch of the swine flu over the weekend and today was not a good day for an all day affair! I had clinic, (in which I felt like a zombie!) then radiology, then 2 hours of studying, and a test! It was not the greatest day back from an illness. I did make it through it all. I passed My Health History PE and got to practice my modified pen grasp and fulcruming all over the mouth. I am not very good in some places. I did feel like everybody was in the same boat as far as experience goes so I don't feel too bad. I just clearly need to practice! I am so greatful that we can practice on pod partners before we have to do it all in a real patient. I always tend to be a bit shakey because of nerves the first time doing things. I'll keep practicing!!

extra! extra! read all about it!

My goal for the day was just to make it through the day! I woke up not feeling well and I didn't go to work but I'm terrified to miss class because it seems that in the past I always miss the most important days! I got here and I've felt fine! (except for my brian hasn't caught up to speed! Today I put my typodont in the chair upside-down! I felt like such a fool! ;0))
Today in clinic we did extra oral exams and it was pretty cool! I haven't every had an extraoral exam done to me before but the whole idea make so much sense! Its just another way that I can help people which is what is so rewarding about this profession! I can't wait till this time next year when I'm doing it all. We also got to get in a mouth today with instruments (ok, so it was just a mirror and explorer but it was way fun!... and awkward but I'll get used to it). I can not for the life of me sit up staight! I don't think I ever developed those muscles because I've had bad posture my entire life!
I also got to pass off two PE's today (patient positioning and vital signs). I did well, but I'm finding the patient to operator language hard! There are just so many things that I shouldn't say such as (hurt, the way we treat you, and being careful with my reactions when something isn't normal.) I also have a hard time using normal terms for body parts like clavicle/collar bone.

All's good in Clinic!

Whoa! I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed with classes and test and material. I feel like I drop a little more behind everyday! There are just too many things to do, too many bills to pay, and not enough time in the day. As far as clinic goes though, things have been going great! We did vital signs today, and I was nervous because when I tried to listen to my own pulse I couldn't hear a thing! It was much easier checking my pod mates vitals than my own, thank goodness! We also did another health history for practice. I'm starting to get the hang of what goes where, but hopefully the patients I end up seeing won't have so many problems, and be on so many meds!

HHx, HHxRx what?!

Today in clinic we talked about health histories and I was dreading it because the whole thing was just confusing! I got through the activities without my brain blowing, but at the end when I started to fill out my pod partners things it all started to make sense. I'm starting to understand what goes where and hopefully by next clinic I will have it down! I also passed off another PE today! I'm trying to stay ahead of them so that I can have one less thing to stress about during the week!

Yes Ma'am!!

My Goal for the day was to read ahead and not be suprised by anything said in clinic! Guess what? No Surprises!! I also wanted to pass off some PE's without mistake. I want to be able to have PPE, set-up, take down, and operatory maintanence down pat so that when I start seeing patients it is all automatic. It was a great day in clinic!