9-29-08

Today my goal in clinic was to understand the periodontal assessment and the bleeding free index. I planned on accomplishing this by reading the info before hand and listening to the instructors. Then I planned on praciticing on my pod partner. I practiced on Tandem. We probed the upper left quadrant. I was within the same readings as my instructor. Then we examined the gingiva of all the quadrants and wrote all the info on the blue and green sheets and wrote a periodontal assessment statement. I felt like I gained a better understanding of how to complete the assessment becuase I was actually having to write it down and have it checked. I also feel like I have gotten better at probing but I still need more work and more work on my indirect vision. Next time we will be learning OHI and I will pracitice and pass off my Intra oral PE and my tx plan PE.

9-24-08

My goal for the day was to learn how to probe on an actual patient. I planned on first practicing on the typodont and then practicing on my pod partner. I wish they had done an instructor demo because I felt frustrated when I started. I asked a ton of questions and had the TA's shadow me alot and I think I finally started to get an idea of what I was suppose to be doing. Mindy says we will get more time to practice and I hope we do because I need more time to practice. Next clinic I plan to pass of my intra oral PE and my tx plan PE.

9-22-08

My goal today was to practice my fulcruming and learn how to explore and use the walking stroke. I planned to do this by watching the demo and then practicing as much as possible. First we watched kim and then we practiced on our dexters. I asked alot of questions and took my time practicing. Then we had a race to set up our pods. After that we practiced on each other and I made my partner shalyce bleed alot and I felt really bad. Then we switched and she made me bleed just as much so then I didn't feel as bad because I realized it was difficult for everyone. Next time I need to practice knowing which end I should use and practice rolling.

9-17-08

My goal today for lab was to practice fulcruming with my mirror and learn to fulcrum with my dominant hand. After reading the material I planned to watch the demo and ask alot of questions. In lab we watched Mindy and she explained it all in detail then we practiced on the typhodont and each other. I struggled alot with holding my dominant hand properly and then I figured out the best way for me to hold the instrument and it felt much better. Then I passed of my mirror fulcrum PE and my vital signs PE. Next time in lab I will practice holding my instrument.

sep. 15, 2008

Today my goal for clinic was to learn how to perform an intra oral exam and to know what I should be looking for and how I should chart my findings. I planned to achieve this goal by watching the instructor demo and then practicing. After the demo we split into partners and practiced the intra oral exam. Then we switch partners and practiced the extra and intra oral exams and charted the exam. I feel confident in the extra and intra oral exam although I think I would like more practice with the intra oral exam and with charting my findings. Next time I will try and review and pass of the extra oral PE.

Extra-oral exam and fulcrum

Today my goal was to learn how to perform an extra-oral exam. I planned on watching the demo in clinic and then practicing with all my partners in my pod. After listening to the demo I practiced with Charlotte and we were able to perform the exam 2 times and on the second time we were each able to do it without looking at the PE for help. Then I also practiced on Tandem and Shalyce. Next we watched the demo on holding our mirrors and fulcruming. I felt like I really understood all of the parts of the PE and I felt like it is an important part of the exam that many private offices do not do. I also felt more like a real hygienist today with holding the mirror and practicing correct positioning. Next time in clinic I plan to see if I can remember all the parts of the PE without looking and if I feel ready I will pass it of.

Sep. 9, 2008

Today in clinic my goal was to gain a better understanding of how to take blood pressure and to practice taking all vital signs. My plan is to listen and watch the instructor and ask questions where I don't understand something and to practice on my peers. I arrived to clinic and Professor Costley walked us through the PE and demonstrated how to take vitals. Then we split up and practiced on all the other students in my pod. I felt that at first it was difficult and confusing but by the end I was starting to get the hang of it. It wasn't hard to find or count the pulse. I kept forgetting to start watching/listening to respiration right away and it was pretty difficult to hear the BP. I still need more practice. Next time I will review and see if we have time to practice some more and possibly on people that I haven't practiced on all ready.l

Sept. 3, 2008
My goal for clinic today was to gain a better understanding of how to complete a health history screening. I planned on listening to and practicing the proper procedure for obtaining a health history so that I could be familiar with what is expected of us when we take health histories on patients. In lab we were able to review the procedure and how to document a health history in a patients chart. Then we actually were able to practice on a partner and actually fill in there health history in their own patient chart. I felt like this helped me to understand how and why we need to document everything in a patient chart. Practicing gave me a better understanding of the procedures that we will use when completing a patients health history. Next lab I will review the procedure and ask any questions I still have.