Temporary insanity

How to avoid the pitfalls of temping by Anastasia Turchetta, RDH

We are lucky to be part of a profession that can be practiced in any state (following necessary steps for licensure), either full- or part-time. The classifieds in your local paper often are full of both permanent and short-term positions. But rather than take a chance on committing yourself to a practice, hooking up with a temp agency located in your city can provide the opportunity to determine whether or not a practice is a good fit prior to making a long-term commitment.

I’ve learned that temping has many benefits, but it’s important also to realize the potential setbacks and be prepared to meet them head on.

Dull instruments, chair discomfort leading to back pain, dim illumination, outdated or overused ultrasonic tips, and coiled tubing on the handpiece are problems still present in many offices. These ergonomically incorrect working environment conditions undermine our service to each patient both mechanically and medically.

Solutions for this problem can include: investing in your own instrument sharpener, magnification loupes, or ultrasonic tips; or daring to show interest in helping the practice look into new equipment. While both options may seem kind of scary, for a professional “temp” who sees doing short-term work as a long-term possibility, the investment in your own equipment helps extend your career when it comes to physical capabilities. And while you might be hesitant to offer purchasing advice to a doctor, it’s possible that your interest might just revive his or her interest in what’s new in the market. You then can offer your insights on what other offices are offering as standard equipment.

Often times, the temp agency you work with will address compensation before you ever set foot in an office, but if you are in a rural area with no temp agencies to help guide you, you have to set your own guidelines. As a self-contractor, you should expect to receive payment upon your completed service or within an acceptable time frame. Ideally, payment should come at the completion of that clinical workday, similar to the doctor receiving payment from patients upon service completion. Know whether you will be paid a day rate or hours worked. For example, you may be scheduled for an eight-hour day, however, two patients cancel, and the practice sends you home for an early lunch or dinner since you’re the temp—what happens then?

The “take back” dilemma refers to the days when you have been confirmed to work with a practice weeks—if not months—ahead only to be suddenly canceled. Will you be able to find work last minute or should you consider some compensation for your committed time? This is a personal decision, one that an agency may be able to help you sort out, but that you should think about on your own. The bottom line is, you should discuss this before it actually happens.

Dealing with bad attitudes, or what I call “BA talk,” generally occurs when the doctor has verbally embarrassed you or displayed an unprofessional attitude in front of a patient or co-worker. You should ask yourself before accepting any job just what you’re willing to accept from a temporary boss. Once you encounter this, ask yourself if it is something that can be, or should be, resolved?

What it often boils down to is whether or not confronting the problem will add emotional stress to your already overloaded plate. Depending upon your circumstances, you may have to bite your tongue to gain the funds needed for your family. Keep your chin up and remember this is not a permanent work environment.

While no arrangement is perfect, being aware of potential pitfalls of temping allows you to embrace the gift of flexibility we have as dental hygienists.