Packaging Instruments

Today was a pretty easy day. We went over our instruments so we can start becoming familiar with all them. We got done way early so we had plenty of time today to pass off PE's, now I'm actually ahead of schedule. YAY! I was nervous to pass off the intra-oral PE, but when I started studying it and after I practiced it on Brooke, I did just fine. I practiced probing again today, but I still feel like I can't do it, it's making me so frustrated.

exploring causes bleeding!!

HaHa. There wasn't too much bleeding; on me anyway, I can't say the same thing for my partner, Brooke. I seriously made her bleed everywhere! :) I definitely liked it a lot better than probing though. I still need to work on which end of the explorer is used for different areas of the mouth. I was able to pass off two PE's. The Pod instructors rotated today and we have Kim now, which is great!

PROBING

We learned how to probe today. I feel so frustrated! I just don't get the concept of changing your angles. I seriously want to cry! :( I really hope I can get it down soon. Today was just not a good day, I sucked it up in clinic and radiology. I need a break...

On Monday we learned how to do intra-oral exams and fulcrums with our instruments. The intra-oral exams were really hard because there is so much to remember! I hope I can remember everything. The fulcrums weren't bad, I felt like they just came natural. I wanted to pass off a PE but we didn't have time because everyone still had to pass off their Health History PE's. The only thing I need to do is for sure go over my intra-oral exams.

Extra Oral Exams

Today was a really fun day in clinic. We learned how to do Extra oral exams to check for any abnormalities and we also learned how to properly use the dental mirror and fulcrums. My goal today was to know and feel comfortable with doing Extra-oral exams. I feel like I can do the whole Extra-oral exam without looking and I know where each structure, gland, and nodule is. I wish we could do the Extra-oral exams everyday before we start clinic because it was so relaxing!! Today was also a really productive day. I passed off two PE's, I passed the Health History PE, which is a huge relief!!

Blood Pressure

Today in clinic we learned to take blood pressure, pulse and respiration. I used to have to take vitals when I worked at for a Chiropractor, but I never really felt totally confident doing it. We practiced on three other people today and I feel a lot more confident. I feel like I actually know what I'm doing. I felt like I learned a lot today, not only did I learn how to properly take vital, but we reviewed how to write a HHx and an HHxRx. Which was much needed. My goal today was to pass off the positing PE, but we ran out of time, so I guess I'll have to pass it off Wednesday.

Health History

My goal for today was to learn how to write a HHx and HHRx in a patients chart. I felt like today went alright. I feel kind of overwhelmed with looking up medications, I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to write in the chart. I feel like there's so many things I have to try and remember, I hope it will come to me with practice.

Today in clinic we learned the different positions for sitting while working on a patient and we also started going over health historys. My goal today was to pass off the set-up and tear-down PE's, which I did! :) It feels really good to be ahead of schedule for once, I wish I could say the same for my other classes.