Today was one of the biggest days in my dental hygiene career. I went and took my anesthesia boards. There is a written portion and you must pass it to proceed to the clinical exam. I have been stressing about this 
day for months, 6 months at least. It was a stressful and exhausting experience, but so rewarding and I feel relief that it's over. The morning was ok, I took my test, and seemed to be controlling my anxiety pretty well, although there were a few times that I felt myself starting to freak out. Our results are put in an envelope with your ID number, there are no names, they only know you as a number. I find my number and it was crazy opening it and seeing that I actually passed the written exam, part 1 complete. Since I passed I qualified to take the clinical exam. My patient was a fellow student who I had actually used for my anesthesia final during the summer. We were both stressing out so bad thinking about the clinical and our scheduled times weren't until mid-afternoon. We sat around for a long time, stewing in our anxiety and left with our nervous thoughts. There is so much anxiety you feel like you are going to have a panic attack, heart attack, pass out, or hyperventilate. It was finally time for my partner to go and I was up to be patient first. I think that was very good for me because I was able to experience the environment before it actually counted. I was shaking in the chair as I was laying in the chair, not afraid of the injection, but terrified of my turn. I kept putting myself in her position and it was freaking me out. My partner did well and passed her 2 injections on the first try, although there were some stressful moments for her. After sitting as the patient I felt like most of my anxiety had left and I tried my best to relax as I waited for my turn. After a while I was called in to begin setting my operatory up. I got a little nervous as I was setting up because I felt so scatterbrained and I couldn't think straight (which normally happens when I get nervous). Also, my table seemed so far away and I was worried about reaching my syringes and it was extremely stressful trying to problem solve on the spot. I finally gathered myself the best I could and called my patient back. As I did my 2 injections I was so nervous and ran into some issues, but was able to handle them correctly and was successful on both injections on my first try. For this exam you want a flat envelope which has just one paper stating you passed. A fuller, more bulky envelope has a paper that states what was done incorrectly along with other necessary paperwork to retake the exam. You are allowed one retake the day of your exam if you fail, at a cost of course! So as I finished cleaning my room I walked by the basket that had the envelopes, to catch a peek, and saw that all of them were flat and hoped that my results had already been put out. After I finished all that I needed to do I went to the basket and sure enough my envelope was on the bottom and it was flat!!! I opened and read that I passed and I was soooo happy, I didn't even know what to do. This was the hardest thing I have had to do. It was an extremely proud moment. It has been a busy and exhausting few weeks. I am so excited for a break and Christmas!!! But in a week or so it's time to start studying for my national dental hygiene boards which are in march. I have one semester left before I graduate! I can see the light. I can't believe it is already to this point. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue such an amazing career and to receive an education. I love learning and being challenged. I am proud of my accomplishments and hope that I can continue learning and expanding my knowledge.
day for months, 6 months at least. It was a stressful and exhausting experience, but so rewarding and I feel relief that it's over. The morning was ok, I took my test, and seemed to be controlling my anxiety pretty well, although there were a few times that I felt myself starting to freak out. Our results are put in an envelope with your ID number, there are no names, they only know you as a number. I find my number and it was crazy opening it and seeing that I actually passed the written exam, part 1 complete. Since I passed I qualified to take the clinical exam. My patient was a fellow student who I had actually used for my anesthesia final during the summer. We were both stressing out so bad thinking about the clinical and our scheduled times weren't until mid-afternoon. We sat around for a long time, stewing in our anxiety and left with our nervous thoughts. There is so much anxiety you feel like you are going to have a panic attack, heart attack, pass out, or hyperventilate. It was finally time for my partner to go and I was up to be patient first. I think that was very good for me because I was able to experience the environment before it actually counted. I was shaking in the chair as I was laying in the chair, not afraid of the injection, but terrified of my turn. I kept putting myself in her position and it was freaking me out. My partner did well and passed her 2 injections on the first try, although there were some stressful moments for her. After sitting as the patient I felt like most of my anxiety had left and I tried my best to relax as I waited for my turn. After a while I was called in to begin setting my operatory up. I got a little nervous as I was setting up because I felt so scatterbrained and I couldn't think straight (which normally happens when I get nervous). Also, my table seemed so far away and I was worried about reaching my syringes and it was extremely stressful trying to problem solve on the spot. I finally gathered myself the best I could and called my patient back. As I did my 2 injections I was so nervous and ran into some issues, but was able to handle them correctly and was successful on both injections on my first try. For this exam you want a flat envelope which has just one paper stating you passed. A fuller, more bulky envelope has a paper that states what was done incorrectly along with other necessary paperwork to retake the exam. You are allowed one retake the day of your exam if you fail, at a cost of course! So as I finished cleaning my room I walked by the basket that had the envelopes, to catch a peek, and saw that all of them were flat and hoped that my results had already been put out. After I finished all that I needed to do I went to the basket and sure enough my envelope was on the bottom and it was flat!!! I opened and read that I passed and I was soooo happy, I didn't even know what to do. This was the hardest thing I have had to do. It was an extremely proud moment. It has been a busy and exhausting few weeks. I am so excited for a break and Christmas!!! But in a week or so it's time to start studying for my national dental hygiene boards which are in march. I have one semester left before I graduate! I can see the light. I can't believe it is already to this point. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue such an amazing career and to receive an education. I love learning and being challenged. I am proud of my accomplishments and hope that I can continue learning and expanding my knowledge.
1 comment:
I only got about half way through your novel.
Paragraphs please... ;)
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