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1/8/2018 |
Insights |
What Can Be Done About Apathy In The Dental Assisting Profession? |
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What Can Be Done About Apathy In The Dental Assisting Profession? by Natalie Kaweckyj When people ask what I do for a living, I respond that I work in the dental profession. I have worked in all areas possible in dental assisting for the past 25 years. I have seen our profession change progressively with the addition of new expanded functions, as well as the achievement of licensure. I’ve also seen setbacks in various states with non-recognition and loss of credentials. Kevin Henry, cofounder of IgniteDA, and I share a passion not only for everything dental assisting, but also a friendship that spans more than 20 years. We have watched each other grow personally and professionally with the various opportunities we’re each embarked upon. We often bounce ideas and discuss difficult topics, but neither is ever for a loss of words. We have both witnessed changes in the dental assisting profession and are searching for the solution to the root of the problem—professional apathy. With this in mind, we teamed up on this article to discuss apathy and the role it plays with today’s dental assistants. As a dental assistant, I’ll look at the inside view. As a consultant and advocate for assistants, Kevin will look at the outside view. Apathy from the inside looking out (Natalie's view) As a long-time leader in the dental assisting profession, I’ve had the chance to interact with dental assistants from all over the world. Many of them face some of the same issues we have in the US. All professional organizations experience the ebb and flow of what’s going on within the industry. The declining trend recently seen in the dental assisting profession can be blamed on many reasons, including personal attitude toward self, mindset on career, and outlook on the profession as a whole. Social media often plays negatively on some dental assisting forums when an innocent comment is misconstrued and blown out of proportion. Lack of caring, enthusiasm, or interest is at the root of the problem. Stepping outside of your comfort zone and getting involved is the solution. Read full article on Dentistry iQ.
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