Don’t you just love a new year?
I really do. I love the feeling of being able to reset, restart, put the year behind me and begin again. Turning the page and giving yourself permission to start fresh carries immense power.
I am very much one of those people who sets goals at the start of the year. I establish new exercise routines. I aim to return to healthier eating habits after the festive season. Naturally, I am contemplating what new courses or professional development I wish to pursue in the upcoming year.
Professional development has always mattered to me. It is the reason Dental Nurse Network was created in the first place. I think that investing in your skills is one of the best things you can do for your future.
I do not know about you, but I was quite happy to say goodbye to 2025 and welcome in 2026. Last year had its moments, but this year already feels full of possibility.
At Dental Nurse Network, we are genuinely excited about what is ahead. We are always working on new projects and constantly reviewing how we can improve what we already offer. That is simply how we operate. We care deeply about quality, clarity, and making learning genuinely useful for dental nurses.
One highlight from 2025 that we are incredibly proud of is that we trained more oral health educators than ever before. We recently surveyed previous students who completed our Level 3 Certificate Oral Health Education and Promotion, including some who had completed the course several years ago. The response was extremely encouraging. Well over 95 percent told us they are still actively using the oral health skills they gained. Some have gone on to become teachers or assessors, others are working primarily as oral health educators, and many are using these skills daily within dental practice. Seeing long-term skill use like this is exactly why this course matters. We will be sharing a full article on this topic shortly.
We also introduced our dental radiography course, and we have an advanced oral health education course coming very soon. These developments are all part of our ongoing commitment to helping dental nurses build confidence, competence, and future opportunities.
As we move into 2026, I want to gently encourage you to take a moment to contemplate your own upskilling this year. Not from a place of pressure, but from a place of intention. Improving your skills is not about being behind. It is about giving yourself more options and more confidence going forward.
One thing I personally find really helpful is creating a clear schedule. I like having something physical or visual that I can look at. Planning my weeks ahead and knowing which days are study days makes a tremendous difference. When study time is scheduled, it becomes a habit rather than something you do when you're tired.
Motivation will always fluctuate. Distractions are part of life. The key is not being perfect, but continuing to press on, even when things do not go exactly to plan. Small, consistent efforts over time can significantly contribute to success.
So if you are feeling reflective, hopeful, or ready for a fresh start, know that you are not alone. A new year does not require a complete transformation. Sometimes it just asks for a steady commitment to doing a little better than before.
We are very excited for 2026 and for what this year holds for our community. Thank you for being part of Dental Nurse Network, and we look forward to supporting you in your learning and development throughout the year ahead.
Here is to a positive, purposeful, and rewarding 2026.