Posted on 09/14/2005 by by ticked dental hygienist
Viewed: 735 times
I've been at my job as a dental hygienist for 2years now. And I have been wrote up twice for talking too much to my patients and for either asking personal questions or having personal conversations that have made patients feel uncomfortable and are considering leaving the practice. Both times I was wrote up I was 1st given a verbal warning that i have taken very seriously and not to mention I am completely humiliated by the whole ordeal. But I take it with a grain of salt and I go on and do my job without the attitude. Now after the initial verbal warning a week later 1-2 more patients have also complained (both write ups. I do admit I like to talk but I do not ask any personal questions if anything patients ask me where i live am i married what am i suppose to do lie to them or better yet ignore them and shove my hands quickly in their mouth. I know that the Dr. I work for doesn't even want me asking people where they work so I know better than to have personal conversations. Now I have been doing hygiene for 4 years and have worked for 2 other Dr.'s and never have had complaints against me like this and when I discuss this with my hygiene friends they've never heard of this before.
POST A COMMENTsotia(09/16/2005)
Yes me too. Maybe it goes both ways and some people are more private, but I LIKE when a doctor or dentist's office remembers me and asks about my life and remembers what I said last time. It shows they are listening and that they care. Unless you're asking them about their miscarriage or their son's parole violation I don't see what the problem is.
mar(09/16/2005)
Perhaps you talk more than the average person would prefer. Sorry if that's too direct, but I think others are giving you bum guidance if they just tell you that the complaints against you are the fault of customers or coworkers.
JustAnotherDay (09/15/2005)
Hey DentalPro, sounds like there could be something decaying in your current practice. I'd look for a new job, but if not possible, I'd quickly switch the personal chats on you to dental talk. I love it when my dental experts tell me how well I have taken care of my teeth and what I can do to improve... you can even offer bits of useless dental trivia, and yes when they start talking to you stick the fingers in their mouth! I never get to talk at the dentist, afterall I'm there to get my mouth worked on. But my best guess is that these complaints aren't real! Unless the patient themselves have mentioned something to you, I'm guessing you have a cavity in the office that is trying to root you out!
SouthernProgrammer (09/15/2005)
I bet you can figure this out if you sit down and write some notes. #1: Did the complaints come after the same patient? #2: Did the complaints come after someone came into the room? #3: When did the complaints start coming in? After a new patient? After having a fight with someone? #4: Do you get along with the boss? Is he/she looking for a documented reason to get rid of you? There HAS to be a pattern somewhere...
Walk the Planks (09/15/2005)
If you have never had a problem anywhere else, it could just be difficult customer(s). The customers could also be friends of the dentist you work for or someone in the office who doesn't like you and wants to create problems for you. I can't imagine what the problem is about getting too personal in conversation, as long as you're making the person feel as comfortable as possible in the dentist's office. That's really what the small talk is all about, anyway. There is a book you can read, too. It's a well-read book in professional offices and with business people, lawyers, doctors, etc. It's been around for years. "How to Win Friends and Influence People," by Dale Carnegie. Also, remember that there are people out there that are just plain bad eggs, and no matter what you do, you're not going to make them happy.
Sad Lady (09/16/2005)
If I was a patient, I would be more comfortable with someone who talked to me. They don't have to ask me anything personal - just make me relax by getting my mind off whats being done. Those particular patients who complain are so wrong for doing that - maybe one day you will find another dentist to work for.
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