From General Nurse to Dental nursing

Carol2057

Hi people,

Im a general nurse, i graduated 2 yr ago, I basically hate it since day one and salute all nurses, but i just find it so difficult and it does not suit me. so getting back to my point , origionally when i was deciding i wanted to be a dental nurse, my career guidance counsellor forgot to remind me this was not the way to get into ii!! Hmmm, well i guess i should of been lukn in2 it myself but it was the first year of degree and things were fuzzy and i figured no one knew how nurse training wud be anymore so i let it go that no oneknew alot but the people i asked at my school told my from training to be a geneal nurse id get to be a dental nurse. ..I also was only 16 filling up my cao and had no clue really of anything all i wanted to do was leave school . But then i realised when i started the nursing course that it was not anything to do with dental nursing.

Im not a quiter so i kept going thinking ill get to like it better etc....No i didnt, and still dont working as staff nurse now. hATE IT.OH YA.

Ok so now im in a bit of a situaution, because im a nurse can anyone suggest what i can do now and im still confused as hw to get in2 dental nursing?! Id love to hear from people who have done dental nursing. Im very confused about my career right now because im sorta done with nursing its so hard if you really hate this job, For people who think dental and general nursing wud be the same it wud not, I would be expecting a drop in my wages though. So any suggestions guys?:rolleyes:I hope iv not confused everyone

Carol H

sunnyjim

There are courses out there you can do at night, but quite a few dental nurses started off getting trained in on the job. That's changed now though I'd imagine.

You have a nursing degree, so if you found a dentist willing to take you on I'm sure you could get trained in on sterilisation etc. You'd be well versed on the safety aspect of it, cross contamination, dealing with patients (although I've never had any contact really with a nurse and I've seen plenty of dentists in my time).

Do you know what the job entails? Get on to your local HSE clinic or dentist and explain your plight. I'd say you'd manage to get a day or so of observation out of them!

helimachoptor

I presume the pay is a whole let less as a dental nurse than it is as a RN??

JuliusCaesar

Dublin Dental School & Hospital,
Lincoln Place,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6127315
email: dentalnursetutor@dental.tcd.ie

eth0_

dental nursing pay is crap! And sorry but how they get away with calling it 'nursing' is beyond me considering all they do for the patients is hold some instruments and prepare mouthwashes!

OP - would you not try to get a job in a private practice or a cosmetic surgery company?

Erica-smiley

If you want to get out of nursing I'd apply through the cao again for dental nursing in Trinity or Marino. Think that'd be your best bet. They have night courses aswell I think!:D

Sligoaidan

My girlfriend is a dental nurse,
its hard work, i think you should get some experience in a practice first even if its just volintering. you cant just go and do a dental course you need to be working in a dental practice for 2 years to get qualified.
the pay is crap and would not advice anyone to do it.

Robyn28

As a Dental Nurse myself i don't take kindly to your opinion!! You are seriously misguided if you think all we do is hold instruments!!! Without us Dentists struggle. We preform many duties chairside aswel as control cross infection in the practice. We are the point of contact for patients. Alot of the time simplifying and explaining complex procedures to patients! We have a very important roll in the Dental Practice! One which we work hard to achieve. I myself trained while working a full time job, investing a lot of money into my career. Yes i say career and im proud to say i have a career in Dental Nusing. And as for the money that can depend on how good you are and the practice you work in!
In response to Carol2057 when i was attending college there was a girl in my class who like you qualified as a General Nuse and hated her job she sent her CV to loads of practices got a job and then applied for the Dental Nursing Course through Cork Dental School and Hospital or Dublin Dental School and Hospital depending on your location. By the way EthO Cork Dental School and Hospital run the course with UCC and Dublin Dental Hospital run it with Trinity College! Yes UCC and Trinity College regard us as more than instrument holders!!!!