Evidence based decision making:
Is very difficult to come up with the right decision for my patient when I’m under pressure. It is a better idea to ask someone else’s for their opinion since I have a partner. However, next semester I’m going to be doing that on my won, so I have to make right decision at the right time. Faculty told me that I usually ask a lot of questions during clinic and that is not a bad thing. However, I should start making decision on my won. For example not every patient need an x-ray. Taking an X-ray will be based on assessing the patient teeth and from there we can decide if she/he need one.
In my second semester, I remember that one of my patient asked me if I can give her the whitening gel that she usually get for her teeth. First of all, I explained to the patient that I am not able to prescribe anything to her since I am a dental hygienist and not a dentist. Second, I explained to her the fact that she should not bleach her teeth unless she gets her carious lesion taking care of first by a dentist. I told her that next time she come in we can get the dentist to prescribe it for her. The patient was satisfied and understood why I could not do it that day. Even though she wanted her whitening gel really bad, I had to make my decision of what is the best for her at the moment.
In my second semester, I remember that one of my patient asked me if I can give her the whitening gel that she usually get for her teeth. First of all, I explained to the patient that I am not able to prescribe anything to her since I am a dental hygienist and not a dentist. Second, I explained to her the fact that she should not bleach her teeth unless she gets her carious lesion taking care of first by a dentist. I told her that next time she come in we can get the dentist to prescribe it for her. The patient was satisfied and understood why I could not do it that day. Even though she wanted her whitening gel really bad, I had to make my decision of what is the best for her at the moment.