First day with Perry

So Perry is known to just grill you with questions throughout the clinic day. Good because it makes you think and bad because you can feel stupid if you don't know the answer. So far so good. I didn't get questioned as much as Brooke did, but it sure does keep you on your toes, and you study up a little bit more before the clinic starts. Which I guess in all actuality it prepares you a little more for boards.

I saw a 1B this afternoon. He had to leave an hour after the appt started....this was a good chaalenge for me to see if I could do it. We didn't take xrays, but I had to do a new patient OD, OHI and scaling, in an hour. The OD is what took the longest with charting all his existing work and then filling out all the paper work and getting the tx plan and walkout signed and printed. But I got him out at 1:30 on the dot. I was a little nervous at first when I looked into his mouth and saw his mandibular lingual bar full of calculus...and sheet calculus. CHALLENGE. No spots missed though. So I think goal accomplished.

Bad news.....terrible news....My board pt fell through. He won't be in town the week of boards. :( I called him last night to schedule an appt to confirm he was a board pt with senior clinic instructors and to start his cleaning. He told me the bad news. I cried for a second after I got off the phone. What a punch to the gut....Indian Giver. Here is now to hoping and praying AGAIN that I can find a legit board pt who won't bail on me. Happy board hunting.

Mockboard #2/Sealant Clinic...etc

I have found another reason I am grateful for being TA in junior clinic....I have found a board pt! Hopefully it all works out. He seems really reliable and he speaks english really well.  I need to bring him in for more xrays and to have Dr. Hanson and Prof. Alexander check the calculus so I can no for sure and have a lot of opinions on the pt truly being my board pt in March. There is one glitch though. He is going out of town for the first 2 weeks or so of March and he won't be back until the 16th of March. So the ONLY he could come is on Saturday. I need to call WREB and see if I can schedule him on Saturday since that is the only day he can come. Fingers crossed for everything working out!!! Mockboard was a good experience. I didn't do as well score wise on this one as I did on the first one, but I think this pt I had was a little more difficult, and I was able to think about what I need to do if the issue I had comes up again. I took the mockboard LA written that day too, and I only missed one. I think I am a lot more prepared than I thought I was...but I still have a lot to study because I don't feel confident enough...make sense?? I think I will be overprepared. I hope that is the case. I  have 1 week to get all the hardcore studying in. My deadline Jan. 30th.

Mockboard and this dang coldsore

I am thankful for being TA in junior clinic merely for the fact that I found my mockboard patient for next week! What a relief. I still have to take PA's on him on the day of mockboard, but I guess that is better than not having a qualifying mockboard pt. at all. I am so happy that my pt seems really reliable and he has been used for multiple mockboards previous to this one. That is a good sign.  My ONLY concern is that when he called to confirm his appt next week he kept saying "Tuesday" , and I would say NO THURSDAY...THURSDAY the 19TH. Then he would respond, "Yes Tuesday." NO! I hope his Thursdays just sound like Tuesday...I think I will be calling AND texting him so he can hear and read the word Thursday...the 19th. Oh my word, please don't be confused pt of mine. Folow up on appointments is extremely important.

I think the stress is starting to get to me...want to know why....because a new cold sore has surfaced yet AGAIN! I just had one in December people. This is a record for me. I maybe get a coldsore 1 time a year, not 3 times in the last 3-4 months. Good grief. My lip and self esteem can't take much more of this nonsense.

Clinic today was good. I am starting to overflow with the class V/II's but my speed is getting a lot faster, and I am not missing areas. I am proud. In Junior clinic on Wednesday I helped some of the girls perio chart, and I realized that as I sat there with one girl for an hour just on probing, just how far we have all come, me especially. It is something to be proud of to actually see your progress as you look at where the juniors are  right now to where I am now.  I have grown leaps and bounds. Good Ah-ha moment.

First day back

Today is the first day back of the last semester of my of college at WSU's clinic. 15 weeks and this anxiety ridden program roller coaster is over! Hopefully it all goes as planned. This morning's pt was a pt I saw last semester for a screening. She was sooo close to being my mockboard, but no cigar. I was able to jump right back into the swing of things with a few brainwaves along the way, like the order the chart goes in...botched that one. I can't believe what a month off does to your brain. My patient was a cute Hispanic lady who spoke a little English, but enough that we could still communicate throughout the appt. She hasn't had a cleaning in 10 years so was definitely some stuff to clean off those teeth. She was so nervous for the appt too, she kept on apologizing for how nervous she was. But I guess I did a pretty good job to calm her fears, because at the end of the appt she told me and prof. Alexander that I have "hands like an angel" Ha! What a compliment! Thank you, and Welcome back!