Dentaid Uganda

Sarah Byrne has been a dental nurse for 13 years. She went for a check up at the dentist and the dentist said to her, ‘You seem like an organised girl, would you like to come work here?’

So, you started out as a dental nurse how did you get into dental nursing?

I started dental nursing when I was sixteen. I had left school and I knew I didn’t want to work in an office. I went to a job recruiters and told them this and they suggested, ‘what about dental nursing?’ I applied to several practices, got a position as a trainee dental nurse and never looked back.

This week we’re getting behind the scenes of DNN and finding out what it really means and stands for!

Meet Mars!

Mars, what does DNN mean to you?

Dental Nurse Network is an online magazine, with various writers contributing informative, inspirational, relatable and fun information and stories. It is also a place for nurses to connect and talk to one another. I think of DNN as a source for inspiration. We are always gathering stories of other people’s experiences in the dentistry profession and sharing various ideas. We are also focused on post-registration education.

Hi Deanna, so tell me, how did you get into dental nursing?

I always knew I wanted a career in health care. I knew general nursing wasn’t for me, as I knew I couldn’t handle the shifts. I attempted a paramedic course but I couldn’t hack it either. It was then that I considered dental nursing. I liked the idea of steady hours but still in the area I wanted to be in. I applied to my local college and got my qualifications. From then on I was a full time dental nurse. I have worked in NHS, community dental service, hospitals, theatre, private and worked as an orthodontic nurse as well. I’ve seen it all.

 Hi Hannah, how did you first get into dental nursing?

When I left full time education I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. As a teenager I had completely unrealistic plans – you know the sort of thing – convert everyone to vegetarianism and achieve world peace!

It didn’t take me long to realise that this wasn’t going to happen and I needed to get myself a job, and in truth it was more by accident than design that I soon found myself employed as a trainee dental nurse.