Goals galore!

I've decided to give myself a huge challenge tomorrow. My goals...

1) Pass off 3 PE's
2) Take a pano
3) Get through the OD AND scale 2 quads on my half class I half class II
4) Start my diet analysis on my pt.
5) Don't be hard on myself if I don't make my goals.

'till tomorrow!

OK so... I think I thought I was further with my patient than I really was! I hadn't even started the OD! I did get two PA's on her and got through a very difficult OD. I passed off anterior instrumentation which was nice. I felt like a flustered mess but didn't get a bad review from professor Costley, so I think I'm being too hard on myself. I make one mistake and then I start triple checking everything I do an melt down inside. I need to stop this cycle. If I hadn't been flustered, I would not have screwed up my x-rays so badly. So I think I just need to chill out and go with the flow (easier said than done)

Amanda

I would like to point out, that the CAs were awesome! Olivia and Jacque, you guys rock :)

Goals

I've decided to start writing my goals on this blog before my clinic session, and then editing the post to evaluate myself on them.

My goals...

1) Pass off my Ultrasonic PE #2 plus one other one.
2) Complete OHI and scale 4 quads of my class II (basically finish her)
3) *Don't get flustered!*

This seems like a lot to me right now, but I know that if I use my time wisely (and keep a positive attitude) I can do it!

AFTER: I didn't meet my fist goal because I misplaced the other PE I wanted to pass off (Oh snap) but I was able to pass off ultrasonic instrumentation #2. I scaled all 4 quads and finished her up AND I kept myself from getting too flustered even after my patient was 15 min late! Overall a good day :)

ODs

My goal for today was to get through it. Period.

I did an OD on one of the more complicated and periodontally involved patients that I've seen. I got flustered and made a ton of little mistakes which made me even more flustered. I had a very long HHX to go through and I messed up on my OD. I didn't need any retakes on my x-rays, so at least that was nice. Looking back I just should have 1) Taken a breather to calm my frazzled nerves and 2) Asked for more help with my OD. I guess I just feel like I have to go fast so that I can meet my requirements, but slow down so that I don't make any mistakes. Sometimes I feel like this guy...



Overall, I kind of left clinic today feeling like a total failure. At least I know what my goal for Monday will be... be better than I was today!

Amanda

Well what do you know?

Today I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I started out the morning as Mrs. Bad attitude and I knew I needed to change that before clinic or I wouldn't get everything done today! I had my husband take my kids to daycare so that I could do yoga to get myself in a good mental state. My goals were

1) Have a good attitude through clinic.
2) Get through OHI, and scale 2 quads (My pt had calculus and staining in her lingual anteriors, so I didn't want to plan on more than that.

I ended up doing OHI, 4 quads, selective polishing and flouride! PLUS I got done about 30 min early!!! I was so pleased as punch, this totally made my day! I thought to myself "Well what do you knnow, I may actually make it through this!" I accomplished my second goal well and my attitude improved as I went along. What a good day :)

Xrays and calculus and board patients oh my!

Today I went into clinic with 2 goals;

1) Have a good attitude regardless of what comes up

2) Accomplish OHI on my new patient

It started out a little rocky with a couple of little mistakes, which instructor Hafen quickly pointed out and I corrected. No big deal. I was very aware of my time today, and was trying to get through things because I could tell I was going to need quite a bit of time for probing because I could see a lot of subgingival calculus in his anterior reagion. I was right! Probing him took F-O-R-E-V-E-R. My patient was very sensitive in his anteriors so I took my time and was as gentle as possible there and we made it through.

During X-rays one of the TAs noticed my patient would be a perfect board patient. It was a little difficult for me because between her discussing the x-rays with the instructor and going over my patient to make sure he'd fit, it took about 25 min out of my time. I tried to be really patient and let her have the time she needed because I know I'll be in that same situation next year and I hope the 1st years are patient with me! After retaking an X-ray and getting it perfect, it got deleted :( That made me really sad. I don't feel like I'm quite up to par yet with my X-rays! I stuck with my goal, though, and tried to keep my attitude positive.

I was able to get through my OD and OHI even with the delays. It took over 10 min of waiting in line to walk my patient out and my chart was in late :( I guess I'll have to make sure to walk my patient out a couple of min early from now on so that I don't have to wait in line.

Overall, I think I met my goals well enough. I just wish I was faster, better, but I know that will come with time.

Amanda

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

"Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you've gotta do?"

Today didn't go as planned AT ALL.. but thanks to a couple of amazing people who went out of their way to help me, I got through it. Last night while I was pondering on what my goals would be for patient treatment today, I came accross one that really ended up coming in handy!

1) Don't get flustered if something goes wrong, just keep on going!

After my patient was almost 15 min late today, she told me that she could only stay for an hour and 15 min! After getting my HHX/Rx signed, I called my emergency patient and asked her to come save me, and to arrive about 9:20. I got my patient past the OD before she had to go (just barely) and my emergency patient was out in the lobby waiting. The clinic assistant and the CA (Kayla.. you're amazing!) were right there to help me, tearing things down and helping me get things ready for the next patient! Thanks to them I had my emergency patient in the chair in no time and even got to get x-rays on her!

Did I get flustered? Yes. Did I have a heart attack? Almost! Did I keep going? Yes! So I guess I will call today a success. :)

Amanda

Patient Day!

So today I saw the class five that I OD'd in November. I made the following goals for myself;
1) Stay focused
2) Maximize my time
3) Don't waste time double and triple checking, trust myself.

I wanted to try to get OHI and at least 2 quads done today. I was able to get OHI, all 4 quads, polishing and flouride all done today. I spent 45 min on my first quad because I kept double and triple checking myself, I was too scared to have a scale check. After the first scale check was done and I had no errors, I felt more confident and got the other 3 done in much less time. No errors on those as well! I was very pleased and relieved when I finished my patient! I feel like I did well at staying focused and keeping track of my time to accomplish my goals. The loupes helped me tremendously as well as having a super cooperative patient. After today I'm cautiously optimistic :)

Ultrasonic and Graceys

Following the guidelines set out in the syllabus, I decided to start off this "clinic experience" by setting goals for today. The goals included;

1) Stay focused and on task
2)Use my time wisely
3)Not being afraid to have the instructor watch me scale
4)Ask for and accept feedback from instructors

I feel like I met my goals really well. I stayed focused on what we were doing, even though I really didn't enjoy my time with the Graceys. I gave it my very best effort, and used my time wisely. I don't know why I'm always so afraid to have the instructors watch my scaling, I felt like it really helped to have them watch me and give feedback. I tried to really understand what they were telling me, asked for clarification etc. I really like using the Ultrasonic, I don't care too much for the Graceys. I'm sure that by the end of next year