If I told you I had always wanted to be a dental nurse, I’d be lying. I remember finishing my training course, and I was not going to register with the GDC – I was so adamant that I didn’t want to be in this job. 

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.