I have been there. You pull into the same parking spot you leave your car in daily, enter the office, and wish your co-workers good morning as you change into your uniform and place your lunch in the fridge. Through the morning huddle, you politely smile and nod while biting your tongue, wishing you had the courage to say what was really on your mind. Then, you start your day and count down until your lunch break. After lunch, it’s a countdown until the end of the day, and as you walk out the door bidding your colleagues a good evening, you tell yourself that you have only four more days to go until the weekend. You feel stuck. It isn’t a lousy office. You get along with your co-workers, and your boss treats you with respect, but at the end of the day, you feel unfulfilled.
I have spent the last four years feeling this way. I was always looking out. I wanted someone to acknowledge my work and appreciate me. I wanted more, and I wanted to be rescued. Finally, I got tired of waiting and rescued myself. I wasn’t ready to leave the profession, but I needed more. Other dental hygienists were thriving in the field. What did they have that I didn’t? What was I missing?
Continuing Education
I have always maintained my quality assurance records throughout my career, and I am ashamed to admit now that I have completed the bare minimum. I took whatever free webinar or online course that would give me credits. This was my first mistake. Not staying up to date with new technologies and methods in the field is, of course, going to make you lose interest. Practising the same day-to-day becomes not only repetitive but monotonous.
Research the products you use in your op. Are there other options? Perhaps the even better ones will make your life easier! Do a self-evaluation and see what other areas you can improve your skills on, such as orthodontics, periodontal classifications, documentation, infection control, or radiography. The platforms for knowledge are endless, with live sessions on Zoom, Teams, or even Instagram. I recorded webinars to watch at my convenience and attended my favourite in-person classes.
Peer Interaction
I graduated from dental hygiene in 2006, and the job market was demanding. I stuffed, sealed, and addressed envelopes containing my resume and cover letter and mailed them to every dental office in town. On my days off, I divided the city into sections and hand-delivered my resume to the offices to inquire about any opportunities. I knew many hygienists working as dental assistants because the market was so flooded they were just happy to have their foot in the door. Wow, have times changed. I was introduced to the profession when other dental hygienists were not my colleagues. They were my competition. I did not want to share what I knew with them in case they were going out for the same position I was. I was intimidated and defensive until… I was invited to join my local society. A very ambitious dental hygienist in town decided to establish a local society and invited all hygienists to join. Once I stopped viewing other dental hygienists as someone to be threatened by, I met some great people.
Invest in Yourself
Both topics mentioned above have many free options; however, I highly encourage you to invest in yourself. Networking with other professionals, seeing and handling all the newest technologies and products, and taking in all the excellent information presenters spend hours preparing to share are all fantastic motivators to get you back to work on Monday. Your employer or office manager may not see value in covering your admission fee for the conference or tuition for a CE course, and that’s okay. Sometimes you need to invest, and if you walk away with new tips for ergonomics that will make your day less strenuous on your body or ideas on how to handle conflicts in the office better, then to me that is money well spent. When your employer sees that you are willing to invest in yourself, odds are they will invest in you too.
Ask For Help
No one is perfect. I was selected for audit back in 2021 and was lost. I had my hours, but how to complete everything and get ready for submission was a total puzzle, so I asked for help. I reached out to a quality assurance coach and, little did I know, this would change my career. We instantly connected, and not only did I successfully submit my portfolio, but I was offered opportunities that excited me, all because I was not afraid to ask for help.
Cut Out Negativity
People will always try to stop you or put you down for trying something new. You do not need that in your life. In the above scenario, two colleagues tried to discourage me from reaching out for help with my portfolio. They thought I was crazy about spending the money on a coach, but I still stand by the fact that it was the best money I ever spent. Enter your office every morning with a positive mindset, and do not let other’s negativity bring you down. I always tell my kids, “A bad attitude is like a flat tire; you aren’t going anywhere until you change it.” Rephrase thoughts to yourself and replace the words “have to” with “able to” – for example, “I am able to go to work today” rather than “I have to go to work today,” “I am able to exercise this morning” instead of “I have to exercise this morning.” Changing that one small word can make a significant shift in your mindset.
The hard reality is that no one is coming to rescue you. I learned to stop looking out for someone else to make me happy and to be my hero by owning my profession. The only way to do that is to be a forever learner, see the value in your peers, invest in yourself, ask for help, and cut out the negativity. People will first ask you why you’re doing these things, but then they will see the value and ask how to reignite their own spark.
About the Author:
Liisa started her dental hygiene career by working for a local orthodontist. Throughout her career, Liisa expanded her skills by working as a temp in general practice, in an oral surgery office, as an educator, and even owning her own clinic. She is a core presenter, a Quality Assurance coach with RDHU, and a CDHO peer mentor. Outside the operatory, she is a Certified Personal Trainer, Pilates instructor, and healthy eating and weight loss coach. Although Liisa loves to travel, she is a true homebody who enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and her dog.
