Throughout my life, I have had an interest in science, an ever-growing interest in healthcare, and an overwhelming urge to help others. At the tender age of 18, I reached that inevitable time of deciding what I wanted to do with my life. After months of not knowing which career to take and multiple weekends taken up by research and talking with family members (some of whom work in healthcare), I decided that dental nursing was the route for me. Now that I had my mind made up, it was time to search hard for the job that I wanted.
I have been a dental nurse for thirteen years now. I started following my vocation by becoming a trainee dental nurse at Bristol Dental Hospital. I feel lucky to have started my career in this way as I could see and train in all aspects of dental nursing – including paediatrics, oral surgery, orthodontics and restorative work. This stood me in good stead for my future profession in dental nursing.
I’ve just completed Year One Term One as a student dental hygienist at the University of Essex. What a crazy term it has been – moving in, making new friends, working at a new practice, attending lectures, writing essays, and taking gateway tests, practical examinations and written examinations. Life as a trainee dental hygienist has just begun.
A question I am often asked, even after twenty-seven years in the dental field, is: “Why did you become a dental nurse?” It is something I often ask my co-workers, and the reply I often get is: “It was something to do,” or “I just applied and got the job”. So how did I become a dental nurse? My journey began after I left college in 1989 and realised, after work experience in a veterinary practice, that becoming a vet or a veterinary nurse was not the career path for me (as a great animal lover, I struggled with the emotional detachment needed to perform duties to my best ability). From my work experience, I identified that I enjoyed working in a clinical environment, dealing with the public and building a relationship with my clients. 
