Double duty

Working in multiple practices doesn’t have to multiply your stress. by Catherine M. Ellington, RDH, BS

Is it possible to create the ideal work environment? If you work in multiple offices, your odds might just go up. Spreading your time over the workweek has many advantages and can give you the ability to find practices that best meet your needs. Once you have found the right fit, practicing dental hygiene will no longer be just a job, but a satisfying career.

Variety. Working in more than one office has many advantages. Not only is it a good change of pace, but working with different staff members and treating more patients can keep practicing dental hygiene interesting.

Supplemental income. If one practice is open part time, picking up a day of work at an additional office or practice setting can be fun, easy and practical.

Vacation time. With a larger pool of hygienists practicing in a particular setting, it is easier for staff to find a replacement when personal or sick time is needed.

Learning. Working for more than one dentist can create a foundation for greater knowledge of how dentistry is administered. Each clinician has his or her own unique teaching style and means of communication to ensure the patient has a greater understanding of the science of dentistry and dental hygiene.

Flexibility. Working in more than one office with different patients, equipment and staff members can be challenging, but if you think quickly, watch carefully, and respond quietly, you can move with the times. Adapting well at work will influence how you adapt to pressures in your personal life.

Communication. As the key to any successful relationship, learning how to communicate with employers and co-workers can be tough. Luckily, you can take what you learn through trying experiences at one office and then transfer that knowledge to the other office. Most employers are open to increased success in the workplace and, if communicated properly, suggestions can create a more productive office.

Equipment. There is no need to settle for ergonomically incorrect equipment and instruments that are not satisfactory. When you are using twice the variety of instruments, it is easy to identify what works best. If it is appropriate, offer suggestions to the employer.

Motivation. Staying in a job that doesn’t challenge you can numb your heart and soul, and quickly cause you to forget why you love your career. If you are bored in your current position, motivate yourself to step outside of the box.

There is something hygienists can always take with them from position to position: passion.  And being passionate is contagious.

Catherine M. Ellington, RDH, BS, works in two private practices in New Orleans and is active on the local, state and national levels of ADHA.