Got burnout? Think you’ll be stuck forever right where you are—unhappy? Stop right there. Burnout is a state of mind—not a definition of your career.
Dental hygiene is a job fraught with pressure. The drain on the body, mind, and spirit can sometimes feel like too much to take. But you’re not alone. Successful hygienists every day are finding new ways to lift each other up and even inspire themselves.
Here are eight viewpoints from dental hygienists around the country. Take it from these colleagues who have been there. You may find your next great turning point right here in these articles from DentistryIQ and RDH magazine.
Goodbye, burnout!
This hygienist used to work in the hospitality industry. There, she learned firsthand how a strong commitment to exceptional service can shape one’s understanding of the role relationships and organized systems play in running a successful business. She shares three secret methods you can use to ignite change.
Overcoming challenges with joy
Recovering from burnout
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the stresses in all health-care professions, and dentistry is right there too. Providers are expected to be continually alert and engaged with patients even at the risk of stresses to self. As Bethany Montoya, BAS, RDH, says, “If left unresolved, burnout can completely devastate a person’s outlook on life as well as their overall well-being.”
Metrics can help
Metrics (or data analytics) can have a big impact on patient care, team collaboration, and practice profitability. Learn how you can use data to make a real difference in patient outcomes, effective treatment routines, and greater job satisfaction—all of which go a long way in shoring you up.
Renewing your passion for hygiene
Doing the same things—with the same dental equipment and supplies—in the operatory day in, day out gets old in a hurry. To renew their passion for hygiene, these two hygienists took their love of learning and expanded their careers. Changing the ways they deliver care to their patients has made all the difference. They came up with a process you can use too.
Help yourself first
You can’t effectively help others (your patients, your team members, and your loved ones) until you help yourself. In this article you’ll learn about a wellness wheel that represents the eight pillars of wellness—emotional, physical, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, financial, social, and environmental—to help guide you in your self-care journey.
Are you thinking about quitting?
There are reasons to stay in a job, and there are reasons to say goodbye. But before you turn in your scaler, take a deep breath and read this article. Amanda Hill, BSDH, RDH, talks about why the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. You’ll learn about some very important questions to ask (and answer) about that new office before you take the leap.
Why the grass isn’t always greener
Mix it up
One key to staving off burnout is to mix it up. This hygienist started out in clinical hygiene, moved to higher education, and then went back into clinical practice first as a temp and then as a part-time hygienist. When she’s not working with patients, she lectures and volunteers. Her advice is to remember why you loved hygiene and focus on what you really want, because you have tremendous flexibility.
How to craft a burnout-proof career
From frustrated to motivated
Burnout doesn’t have to take over your career and your life. Dental hygiene is demanding in many aspects, but there are ways you can take control of your situation and turn it around for good. Here are some opportunities to grab onto that will help improve your office and lead you to a better place to thrive.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Clinical Insights newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.
