Introduction

I’ve been a Registered Dental Nurse for five years now. After completing my apprenticeship at Leeds Dental Hospital, I was lucky enough to get a job in my favourite department – Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

I have been asked to share my story. My name is Joanne, but most people call me Jo. I have a beautiful daughter, who is seven, and a husband who is a children’s magician. I have recently celebrated my big forty with my sisters, who I share my birthday with as we are triplets.

A career in dentistry was never something that crossed my mind during school or college – in fact, while I was growing up I had no idea what I wanted to do. At the age of eighteen, I found myself desperate for a job and was lucky enough to be offered a position as a trainee dental nurse in a local NHS practice.

How it all started

Throughout my life, I have always been a very caring person with a desire both to help others and to take advantage of opportunities to grow in whichever career I decided to pursue. I have multiple family members working in the health industry, and they all offered me loads of valuable advice.

Many of you will know me as a tutor on various courses offered by Dental Nurse Network or as the quality assurance lead for the oral health qualification, but I’m also practice manager of a five-surgery dental practice. I’m writing this article because I’m aware that there are many nurses out there who want to progress in their careers and become practice managers but who have never been given the opportunity. I wanted to share my story with you and tell you to never give up hope.