Lesson 15-Final Reflection Paper

Final Reflection Paper

My road has been an interesting one. I have always known what I dreamed of doing in a career, however I never knew how to get there. I thought that doing what you love just meant deciding and then going forward with it. I didn’t realize it meant a lot of hard work in the process. I guess that’s what makes a desirable career so desirable, that once you are doing what you love you appreciate it so much because of all it took to get there. I have wanted to be a dental hygienist since I was a little girl.
When I left home to go to college I realized that I had no way of paying for it. Neither of my parents went to college and neither of them knew how to prepare me. I came to Utah because my older brothers had done so before me and attended BYU. I didn’t realize all the hard work they had put into their schooling until I took this road on my own. Once I learned how to apply for student loans and get grants, I began my college career. It took me a while to understand the whole process of college. My first semester I did awful, my second semester I began to grasp certain aspects of the college routine, but still did pretty poor. It was then that I realized my actions and inexperience with college had consequences. I then learned that if I was going to do this on my own I was going to have to do it right.
That is when I finally met with a counselor. My counselor suggested this class. They suggested that although I knew what I wanted to do, it would be helpful to have a class that could show me how to do what I wanted to do. I took this class once and didn’t finish because along with this class I took a semester of very tough classes. I let this class fall by the wayside because I “didn’t need it for my pre-requisites” for dental hygiene. Now that I have finished this class I laugh at myself. I did not realize how incredibly helpful this class was in getting me to understand what I want and need to do to actually fulfill my desired career.
I encountered another hiccup this semester. I was retaking this class to up my GPA since I hadn’t done well previously and because my counselor has highly recommended it. I didn’t think anything would keep me from finishing it this semester but as life would have it, it threw me a curve ball. I lost a very dear friend unexpectedly. It was more tragic than I ever would have thought. I dropped everything in my life to attend to the needs of family members and myself during this grieving process. When I returned, real life hit me hard and I realized that I had done it again. I had put the needs of others and situations I could not control above my education. I was overwhelmed. I knew that if I did not complete this course and others that I would be penalized financially and academically. Thankfully you and your kindness allowed that not to happen. And thank goodness for that. I finished this course, learned so much and finally feel prepared to move forward with the process of applying for dental hygiene programs.
I never knew that those bumps in the road would push me to the point of success. On Thursday May 5, 2011 I am taking the HESI test. Yesterday I made my appointment. This is huge! If I pass this test I will begin the interviewing process for the Fortis College of Dental Hygiene beginning in July of this year!
The last assignment of goal setting and revising my action plan is what set this in motion. I thought about the plans I have been making for years and the goals I had never accomplished and after revising it and learning how to set short and mid-term goals I followed through on one of them. I am really grateful for this class. I learned where I could go for resources on internships, learned how to utilize tools on campus regarding career advisement, learned how to properly make a resume and how a cover letter is important (I’ve never used a cover letter until this class), discuss with other students about my career choices and the importance of what my goals and values are. And most importantly I learned about myself and what I really want out of a career and how to get it!

Lesson 14-Goal Sheet

Short term goals

• Study 45 minutes ever night for the HESI test
• Attend the practice test classes for HESI two times before taking the test
• Work 25 hours a week as a hygiene assistant
• Every two weeks (per paycheck) put 10% in a savings account to be ready to pay off student loans
• Attend Family home evenings and all singles activities to get more comfortable in social situations and to make yourself available to date
• Find out deadlines and qualifications for volunteer programs to help underprivileged children with their teeth by January 2012.

Mid-term goals

• Network with dentists in your area and also the San Diego area so that I have a job set up by graduation date
I will do this by meeting with dentists in my home ward at church in San Diego and discuss my desire and qualifications for working as a dental hygienist. I will find out where there is a need for my position and ask for an interview. I will email and hand-deliver resumes and ask for volunteer internship hours to network and try and get a job. While in school I will network through the school and there connections with dentists in the area.
• Volunteer with Hirschie Smiles humanitarian organization to better my resume and experience
I will do this by filling out the necessary paperwork and getting the health care requirements to volunteer out of the country. I will speak with Gina who volunteers with Hirschie Smiles every year about the steps I need to take to be able to volunteer. I will save $100 every paycheck so that financially I will be ok while volunteering.
• Go on one date a week to establish good relationships for a future marriage
I will do this by attending family home evenings and all singles activities to get more comfortable in social situations and to make myself available to date.
• Have ¼ of student loan paid off by December 2014
I will do this by taking 10% of my paycheck every 2 weeks and put it towards my student loans. I will also take the money I had been saving short tem and pay it towards my student loans.

Lesson 14-Decision-Making Model

Lesson 13-Job shadow

Name: Keveny Daley

Title: Dental Hygienist

Company: Jones Dental

1. Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I really enjoy helping others feel more confident about their smile. It is interesting to see a patient arrive who hasn’t been to the dentist in a while and had their teeth cleaned and see how they are a little self conscious, but after I am finished with their appointment and cleaning their teeth they leave with a bigger smile and a little more confidence about themselves. Plus I like the process of getting to know my patients in a simple of a task as cleaning their teeth. You would be amazed how much you can learn about someone just by cleaning plaque off of his or her teeth.

2. Q: What is your typical day like?

A: I arrive at around 6:45am, check my schedule for the amount of patients I am going to have and what instruments I will need and set up my first two rooms for my first two patients. Then I read their charts, learn of their health history and insurance.  I check their insurance just incase they need more work done that day, I like to know what their insurance coverage is, because that is usually the first question they ask me. Then I go about my day seeing about 6-10 patients depending on the schedule and difficulty of the appointment. And have about an hour for lunch and recuperation for my wrists, being a hygienist is tough on your wrists, and then around 5pm I clean my exam rooms and head home. Some days we have a staff meeting, some days if my schedule fell apart then I have to fill it with people wanting an appointment sooner, some days are just slow and I have to find things to do around the office like restock, verify insurance, assist the doctor, etc. But a typical day starts at 7am and ends around 5 or 5:30pm and I see about 9 patients.

3. Q: What kind of experience would you recommend to pursue this type of career?

A: I would recommend at least working in a dental office for 6 months before committing to this career. A job in a dental office is different than most people think.  And I generally see dental assistants start out in this field and say they want to be a hygienist but after a few months in a dental office they quit or change their mind.  You need to know that the work you are doing isn’t glamorous. And it’s hard. Some people going into hygiene thinking it’s an easier high paying career, but it’s not. It’s messy. You deal with spit, throw-up, patients having anxiety attacks, blood, and many other gross fluids. I say this only because when I was in school a fellow student who had worked in the dental field told me to try it out before I go through all of my schooling, and I am so glad I did.  It isn’t for some people; thankfully I can handle those things and also enjoy the work I do on a day-to-day basis.

4. Q: What do you like least about your job?

A: You would think from my previous answer that I wouldn’t like all of the gross fluids I come in contact with daily, but in reality the thing I like least about my job is actually the insurance and people canceling their appointments.  As a hygienist a big part of my job is to keep patients.  If patients don’t come back every 6 months then the doctor doesn’t’ have a good established practice.  It’s important that I see these patients on a regular basis, so that I know them and they trust me. I need to establish a good relationship with my patients and keep their teeth healthy.  It’s tough when a patient doesn’t come in because insurance doesn’t cover something. I really don’t like to see that happen.  For my patient and me. For me because my salary often depends on the schedule I keep full and for my patient because teeth health is a lot more serious than many think.  Unhealthy gums can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and lead to heart disease. So it’s tough for me to see patients cancel appointments and not take it serious.

5. Q: How many hours in a week about, do you work?

A: I work about 35 hours a week on a normal workweek.  I work Monday thru Thursday with Friday thru Sunday off. A lot of established offices have that schedule, but some newer offices need to build clientele and have to work Fridays late and Saturdays early to accommodate people who work in a career where the only time they can come into the dentist is during after their work hours on Friday after 5pm and Saturday mornings.  I worked at a couple offices like that straight out of school. It was a good experience for me, but I prefer the workweek I have now especially since I am a mom. It’s nice to have 3-day weekends.

6. Q: How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?

A: Well, my experience in hygiene school was the most helpful. I learned the skills I needed for my job directly. My college “experience” prepared me by teaching me dedication and discipline.  I learned to work hard, study hard, and to be competitive to keep my job by being the best I could. Hygiene school was very competitive to get in to. So I had to be the best I could and work very hard, which has been the case in the field as well, because there are always younger and newer hygienists who want my job.  But continually keeping up my skills and abilities to be a great hygienist has been important. So the college experience of hard work has probably prepared me the most.

7. Q: What are some benefits to working in this field?

A: Great dental work! Usually for Free! It’s a great perk to working in a dental office. Dental work is expensive so its nice to have it be free. The dentist you work for generally wants his staff to have a nice looking smile, so he will usually provide free dental work for his staff. You may not get the most convenient appointment, but it’s free. There are times when a patient has cancelled or no showed and I have hopped in the chair and had a filling done and then seen my next patient an hour later, numb cheeks and all. 

8. Q: What is the salary range for a person in this field?

A: A hygienist can make anywhere from $30,000 a year to $80,000 a year depending on hours worked, location of job and years of experience. But a typical hygienist working 35-40 hours a week averages about $50,000 to $60,000.

This experience was extremely helpful to me. I enjoyed hearing the candidness of the job from Keveny and felt that she was honest about all aspects of the career. I learned that there is a lot more to being a hygienist than just cleaning teeth. By doing a job shadow I realized that I definitely want to still pursue this career. It’s seems like hard work and a challenge to stay committed but I like a good challenge. I think it was good for me to know that I will be dealing with things such as canceled patients, having to keep the doctors schedule full, insurance, etc. I am glad I did this interview and feel that it only helped open my eyes to areas of the field that I was unaware of before. I feel that after this course I am much closer to pursuing this career that I was at the beginning.

Lesson 12-Mock interview

1. Who did you interview with and what is their job title?

I interviewed with Angie Stevens D.D.S. She was the dentist of the office for the hygiene assistant position I was applying for.

b.What was most useful to you about this experience?

I have interviewed many times for this postion in the past, however this time I knew their was a check list. I reviewed that check list and the felt more aware of how I conducted myself.  I wanted to answer and share my previous experiences with the interviewer correctly so that I would be able to demonstrate that I was the right person for the job, not just able to do the job.

c.  What was the most difficult question you were asked? Why?

I think that the most difficult question to answer was about a mistake I made at work.  I'm used to sharing my strengths and to on the spot remember something that I did that was a mistake was difficult. I took longer than I would have liked to answer that question. In the future I will have a story prepared just in case I get asked that again....in a real interview :)

d.  What advice would you give to others preparing for an interview?

I would give the advice to appropriately share personal experiences if they pertain to the job inquiry and to be friendly and confident in your ability to do the job your interviewing for. I would suggest doing a mock interview like this one because it is extremely helpful to be prepared before you go in.  I think I will keep this evaluation sheet and use it as a personal checklist in my mind for my next interview.

e. Name at least three (3) things you learned.

I learned that I say "um" too much and that it's distracting. I learned that I fidgit while waiting for the interviewer to ask the next question and I learned that while sharing personal experiences from previous jobs that I needed to make it more precise and not take so long on each detail but to just get to the point.

f. Name at least three (3) things that can be improved on for your next interview.

I think the three things that I mentioned previously could be improved plus I think I would like to be more prepared for the "mistake" question and I think I would wear closed toe shoes because I realized that it's a little too informal to have an open toe shoe on even if it is a nice dress shoe, my mock interviewer pointed that out.

Lesson 12- STAR stories

1. *When I was assisting Dr. Jones at Christansen and Jones Dental, there would be days when the amount of appointments and patients outnumbered the assistants we had to work on them.
*I would often have to be in one appointment with Dr. Jones while he administered the numbing agent and help another assistant with the next appointment.
*While my first patient was getting numb, I would make sure that we would not go passed the time allotted to see each patient. It’s a tricky game when that happens, but it’s how you handle yourself in the situation and how well the whole staff works as a team to get the work done.
* In the end I was able to be in one room with a patient when a certain procedure needed doing and help out the rest of the staff by staggering each patient as they came in and assisting the dentist wherever he needed me.
2. *Many times patients insurances choose not to cover certain dental work. They deem it unnecessary work and refuse to pay. This causes the dentist and patient stress. The dentist has already done the work and needs to be paid and the patient needed the work and now has no way to pay for it.
*While working as a insurance coordinator my job is to make sure the dentist is paid for work he has performed. I need to submit proper notes and x-rays to document the procedure and why it was needed for the patient.
*In one particular situation, the insurance company was refusing payment because a case had not been documented properly. As the insurance coordinator I was over 2 other insurance assistants. In this case one of them had submitted the wrong x-ray. This particular x-ray showed that the patients tooth was not as decayed as another angle of a different x-ray showed. So, I as the insurance coordinator knew that my job was to step in and show this assistant why we needed to know how to read the x-ray so that we always submit the proper one, so that the dentist gets paid and we have done our job correctly.
* In the end, I took over the case. It became a battle between the insurance company and our office and I was able, with my experience to handle this deeper situation better. It resulted in full payment for the procedure done and the patient and dentist were able to continue and great relationship and this particular patient is still receiving work from this dentist.
3. *I have always dreamed of running a half marathon. It was something I only thought was a dream, but realized that after seeing my older sister do it, it really could be a reality. I set a goal to run this half marathon by age 25.
*I had one year to train and had not been much of a long distance runner in the past. So I knew it was going to be a big job to tackle. I didn’t know much about half marathons except they were 13.1 miles and outside.
*I researched half marathon training schedules and found one that would work for me. I set out to start a week later and each day I would follow that schedule religiously. I bought the proper clothing that would make my running experience more comfortable and I also included a few friends in my training so that I would be held more accountable to accomplish my goal.
* I trained for 9 months and me and my 2 friends who were there to support and keep me accountable, ran the Huntington Beach half marathon 3 months before my 25th birthday. I learned though this experience that when you have a plan and work hard, you can accomplish any goal you set for yourself.

Lesson 11-Resume and Cover Letter

Natalie R. Ek

1835 Auburn Ridge Lane Draper, Utah 84020 cell: (801) 550-3816 

email: natek20@gmail.com

April 16, 2011
Dr. Ammon Jones
Jones Dental
Pleasant Grove, Utah 84062


Dear Dr. Jones,
I am responding to your advertisement found on the allied health job board, regarding the dental hygiene position. Please regard this letter as my formal application. Enclosed are my acquired skills showing my experience and background.
With the experiences I have had in the dental field as a hygiene assistant, I have learned how important it is to communicate properly in an uncomfortable environment and make people feel at ease. While being an assistant I was able learn how to handle stressful situations and deal with many kinds of people. I was able to assess their needs and delegate responsibility to help coordinate the proper care to solve the problem.
I am available for an interview at a mutually convenient time. Please contact me via email. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Natalie Ek

Natalie R. Ek

1835 Auburn Ridge Lane Draper, Utah 84020 cell: (801) 550-3816 

email: natek20@gmail.com

OBJECTIVE
To obtain an internship in a dental practice that will benefit from my initiative, contributions and capabilities, as well as keeping a productive practice at its full potential, with professionalism always in mind.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
CPR Certified Radiology License #3483
Great patient relations Taking alginate impressions and pour-ups
Charting Mixing and placing cements
Fabricating Acrylic Temporaries Placement of matrix and rubber dams
Dentrix Experience Chairside Duties
Coronal Polishing Vacuum form and trim bleaching trays

EXPERIENCE

GENTAL DENTAL, INC                                                     June 2009-March 2011
Hygiene Assistant

MARK EDINGTON, D.D.S
MODERN DENTAL CARE                                                December 2007-June 2009
Dental Assistant

CHRISTIANSEN AND JONES DENTAL                         March 2004-January 2005
Front Desk/ Treatment
and Schedule Coordinator

MARK MONSON, D.D.S. ORAL                                      November 2002-March 2004
AND MAXIOFACIALL SURGERY
Front Desk Receptionist/Insurance
Coordinator

MICHAEL D. KLEIN, D.M.D APC                              January 2001-November 2002
Dental Assistant

EDUCATION

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, Orem, Utah
Dental Hygiene A.S. 2014

DENTAL PROS. CONTINUING EDUCATION, San Diego, California
Radiology Safety License- #3483

CAREERS UNLIMITED, Orem, Utah
Dental Assisting Certificate

RELAVENT SKILLS

COMPUTER: Dentrix software, Microsoft office, power point, excel, word, quick books, Internet, 50 wpm

OFFICE: Filing, bill collection, insurance, multiple phone line operation, fax, copier, appointment scheduling, and administrative assisting duties

Lesson 10-eScavenger Hunt

1. List at least one event that is happening this semester listed in “Upcoming Events”. Are there any employers interviewing on campus this week? If so who is it and when will they be on campus?
*Recuiting fairs and events 2010- 2011
Internship / Career / Job Fairs
Accounting Internship & Job Fair
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Sorensen Student Center, Centre Stage
4:00-6:00 PM
For all accounting students and employers recruiting for accounting and auditing candidates.
*On-Campus Interviews
Wasatch Mental Health On-Campus Interviews
Interviewing for Full-Time Cost Accountant position
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011, all day

2. List 4 services offered by the Career Development Center.
1. Find a job
2. Explore careers
3. Career developement: your own career counselor
4. Graduate school
3. Look under the “Students” tab for the “Job Search Engines”. What are 4 sources the website suggests you to look for job opportunities?
1. campusRN.com
2. Monster.com
3. National Association of Colleges and Employers
4. Department of Workforce services
4. Locate the names of 4 counselors and tell what their specific area is.

1. Career counselor, Science and health
Sue Stephenson
2. Career counselor, education
Gary Gardner
3. Career counselor, Humanities, Arts and social science
Lei Pakalani
4. Director, career development center
Career counselor, business
Michael Snapp

5. What services are available to help you prepare for grad school?
*Use the UVU Graduate Exam Preparation Center
The UVU Graduate Exam Preparation Center is a private room in the Career Development Center offices that provides materials and computer support designed to help you prepare for graduate school entrance examinations. This includes the opportunity to take practice tests for free!
*Graduate School Fair
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Grande Ballroom, Utah Valley University

6. Find Optimal Resume on the CDC website (homepage). This is a free service to help students create a basic resume. Create an account and a simple resume with this tool. Submit the resume you created with this assignment. (I’m not grading on the resume you create. I just want you to know about this tool.)
* check attachment


7.Where is the CDC office located? What is the office phone number?
• ROOM LC-409
• 801.863.6364

8. Who is the Director of Internship Services? Who is the Internship Coordinator? Where is the Internship Office located?
* Marsha Haynes Director of Internship Services
*Maren Mather Internship Coordinator
*Located Room LC 409

9. What is the process for setting up an internship for credit?

• Make an appointment with your Career Services Counselor (801) 863-6364.
• Meet with your internship coordinator in your department.
• Identify internship sites that match your skills, interests and goals
• Develop a resume and cover letter and prepare for interviews
• Schedule interviews with prospective site supervisors and ensure the experience
provider has completed a Master Agreement with the Internship Services office
in CSSE.
• Discuss your ability to gain academic credit for your internship with your department Internship Coordinator and register for the internship.
• Complete the online internship orientation
• Complete a Learning Agreement and/or other required documents with your Department Internship Coordinator and obtain the required signatures.
• Arrange to meet and/or communicate with your Department Internship Coordinator
throughout the semester.


10. List two internships found on the “Weekly Hot Internships” list?
· Special Olympics Utah
Business Management, Communication, Hospitality Management
26541 Marketing & Development Summer Internships
· Office of the President
All Majors
28727 UVU Presidential Cabinet Intern

11. List two internships available in Washington DC and the current deadline for application.

Republican National Committee
Summer internship $100/week, summer structured, full time program. Other semesters not paid but less competition. Internships available in events, political, research, strategy, finance, fundraising.
Summer deadlines March 1, Fall deadlines Aug 15, Spring Deadlines Dec 15

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
Intern Investigators are provided with an overview of the criminal justice system with an emphasis on the laws governing and shaping the conduct of criminal investigation. Possible $8/hr stipend.
Summer Deadlines March 12, Fall Deadlines Aug 13, Spring Deadlines Dec 11

12. Find the testimonial page for internships.
(http://www.uvu.edu/internships/students/testimonials.html) View at least one testimonial. Who did you watch and what did you learn? Look at the written testimonials. What one impressed you?
*Anna Culp, internship at Friend Magazine, found on UV job board sounded like dream job, they were excited to have a UVU student, her internship made her better prepared for job market, her advise was to be enthusiastic about the internship you choose.
*The written internship that impressed me was Brittany Buckhannon who did her internship at Sea World in San Antonio, Texas.
I was impressed to see that the connections and networking that she was able to do while on her internship was more valuable than the things she learned in school. I too believe experience is so crucial when trying to get a job.

13. What internship scholarships are available?
· General Internship Scholarships: Requirements
• The applicant must be a current UVU undergraduate at the time of the internship
• The applicant must be registered for at least 1 internship credit during the summer 2011 semester.
• The internship must be an unpaid experience.
• The internship must involve substantive and supervised work related to the applicant’s academic major or liberal arts experience.
• The applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.

· Government Internship Scholarships
• The applicant must meet all General Internship Scholarship eligibility requirements
• Internship must be with an official government agency.

· Non-Profit (IPE) Scholarships
• The applicant must meet all General Internship Scholarship eligibility requirements
• Internship must be with a need-based non-profit organization.




14. Take a look at the Internship Blog and Facebook page. What suggestions do you have that would make these more helpful?


*Wow, I thought both the blog and facebook page were designed well and seemed easy to navigate through. I also thought that it was helpful that the websites to internships and deadlines were posted on facebook updates.



15. Go go to the “Have a quick Question” box on the internship home page and ask a question regarding internships. Write the question you asked below.

*Do you have any internships in a dental office?

Lesson 9-Find an Internship

1. Dental hygiene
http://www.internweb.com/internship/NY/15406/10206
2. Fundraising/Special events
http://www.internshipprograms.com/Pages/Internships/InternshipView.aspx?id=2516
3.Finance
http://www.londoninternships.com/summer/internships/
4.Radiologist
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=91861385&JobTitle=Radiologist+%28Interventional%29&q=internship&where
5.Immunology
http://www.scripps.edu/community/index.html#undergrad
I picked these internships because they seemed interesting. The first on my list is of course because it is the most important and is what I am focusing my education on, from there the internships I chose were because the field of study/work seemed like something I would like to learn more about. Especially the one in finance that takes place in London. I think that would be so neat to go do an internship in London.

Lesson 9-Internship Sales Group Project

Internships: The Key to Success

Internships are a critical step when preparing for your future career. Internships offer a professional experience that gives you an edge that you can’t gain anywhere else. Internships are the key to getting your foot in the door by learning what your career is really about and if it’s the career for you.
Firstly, internships offer hands on professional experience that cannot always be taught in school. When searching for a job, employer’s value educated candidates but they also value someone with experience in addition to an education. Being able to offer an employer your professional experience will help you find a job.
Also, internships offer someone great hands on experience to decide if this is the field that they really want to go into or if another area in your degree would be better. It is much easier to accept an internship that you later realize you don’t want to be doing for the rest of your life, than to accept a job offer that you figure out later you don’t want to be in. Interning also helps to build confidence in your career; once you set out into the world to begin your career you will have a better understanding of what is expected and the tricks of the trade. After an internship you can walk into a job interview with confidence that is desirable.
A few other key points to internships are to try and do at least one internship during your years in college. Try and get into multiple internships and set a few goals that you want to accomplish with each of these internships. Internships have become extremely important for all students in college. While interning, it is important to act professionally and treat your internship opportunity as a future career. Some internship programs are paid and some are just for experience. Either internship is valuable, because the internships that aren't paid give you experience on your resume that can add to your income once you are out of college.
The great thing about internships is that you are able to meet people in your future workforce and therefore able to network when looking for a permanent career. Internships help build a resume and career portfolio. Internships are a great experience that enhances your ability to work and learn in the desired career of your choice. Internships can only better your chances of deciding what you would like to do in the future.

Lesson 8-Informational Interview

I interviewed Megan Lightner who is a Registered Vascular Technologist at the University of Utah Hospital
1. How did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
I like a challenge. I like helping and working with people. I have always been interested in the medical field. It is rewarding. I was interested in the physics and principles relating to ultrasound, how it works and how you can help people through that process of scanning their bodies. It’s interesting to me that I can save someone’s life just by knowing how to work a machine and understand what a blood clot is and if it is harmful to an individual’s health.
2. How did you get your job? What jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
I had to complete a 900-hour clinical outside of my school, or an externship, unpaid. While I was still in school, I attended a conference on vascular ultrasound. I was not planning on attending which I’m sure you understand, sometimes those conferences are just one more thing that you have to do at school and when they are optional it’s a hard decision to go. However I was glad I went because I met the head of the department I work in now. Steve was the main speaker and after the conference I introduced myself because he was from Utah and I had gone to school at BYU before I went to school in Spokane (which is where I got my education for Vascular Ultrasound) and I knew he worked for University of Utah and teased him about Cougar/ Ute rivalry. Long story short, through networking, I was able to receive my clinical hours from him and was hired by the company directly afterwards.
3. What are the various jobs in this field or organization?
You can work in a private lab or you can work as a program director. You can be a teacher to other vascular ultrasound technologists’ students. There are also positions for a private contractor who get a machine and open their own practice or you can do like I do and work in the hospital vascular lab.
4. Why did you decide to work for this company?
The University of Utah hospital is a really great company. First of all, they have excellent health benefits. The staff and technicians have a good relationship with the physicians and surgeons. The hospital is well established and organized. And the vascular lab is run well and the staff has been there a along time. Funny story, I also get to see the prophet (of the LDS church) sometimes, like I did the other day. That’s kind of a cool benefit to working in Salt Lake.
5. Do you find your job exciting or boring? Why?
It’s exciting because it is different everyday going to the operating room seeing in and out patients. I see different situations everyday. There is never a dull moment in the hospital. I can’t speak for a lab or for the places you could work in this field but in the hospital I see all kinds of patients and it’s has made me so aware of my health and how important it is.
6. What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job?
To name a few off the top of my head I would say; critical thinking, hard working, ability to work independently, have confidence and be motivated. It is also important to have good patient relations and be empathetic because the patient you are working on is generally in pain.
How did you learn these skills?
After the first week I quickly learned that although the technical part of the job is important, it’s also important to care about your patient. It’s important to understand their needs and feel for them in their current situation. I have seen other technicians come in and try to just use the technical skills they learned in school and end up really not liking this job because a huge part of it is patient care. And people in general who are in the medical field already care about others and that is why they were interested in doing this job in the first place. However, if it doesn’t come naturally to you, you learn pretty quickly that it is important to care about the patient.
7. How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people with whom you work?
It a laid back atmosphere at times but it can get stressful and when it does it is important to work as a team. That team environment helps everyone. It is supportive and everyone looks at the big picture to get the job done.
8. What are the salary ranges for various levels in this field? Is there a salary ceiling?
You can earn anywhere from $30/ hr to as much as $100,000/year. If you are on call you can earn time and a half for three hours even if you work for only 15 minutes plus an hour of travel time. Many new technicians have to establish themselves this way, The technicians who have been in this field for a while and have a steady salary or schedule usually do not prefer to be on call.
9. From your perspective, what are the problems you see working in this field?
It is hard on your body physically. There are many work related injuries from not using proper techniques such as carpal tunnel, back, shoulder injuries. The ultrasound machine that we use weighs 500 pounds and it needs to be moved and operated a certain way.
10. If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why? What would you change?
Yes, because it is a fulfilling career. I enjoy the patient interaction that I have on a daily basis. I am able to meet and help a lot of people through my skill. There is also room for growth because I can learn other modalities such as echo and general ultrasound. Because once you are registered in one you can cross train. So the growth opportunities make me feel that I am never stuck in just one career the rest of my life.

This was a really interesting interview for me. I have always wanted to be a dental hygienist but after interviewing Megan I found myself curious about this type of career and could see myself doing it. I like it because it is not as invasive as a registered nurse but you still get to work in a hospital environment, which interests me, and you get to work with people and help them with their health. I definitely think that I will keep Megan in my people of interest to network with. I can already tell through this interview that networking in this field Is crucial. She mentioned that she got her job because of her externship that she did with the company. I prepared for this interview by looking up what a Vascular technologist was and what they did, then my sister told me that she had a friend who worked at the University of Utah hospital that I could interview. I wanted to make sure I asked her appropriate questions for her job. I was able to interview her at the hospital cafeteria during her lunch break. I was nervous because I didn’t really know my way around a hospital but found it really interesting. She took me to the vascular technologists station where they wait for calls and research things they do not have answers to sometimes. It was interesting and I think if I don’t get into a dental hygiene program this could definitely be a field of study I would pursue.

Lesson 8-Elevator speech

My name is Natalie Ek. I am currently a sophomore at Utah Valley University working toward my associates in science degree, with an emphasis in dental hygiene. I am working as a dental hygiene assistant while going to school full time. It has helped me with my time management skills and I am a hard worker because of it. My job and schooling have helped me achieve good customer service skills as well. I am very organized and a friendly person. I am often complemented on my ability to put someone at ease with my outgoing personality and friendly smile. I enjoy a challenging situation to push my abilities, but I also do very well with routine activities in the workplace. I am a motivated hard worker and I get the job done quickly and efficiently.
I am looking for a career in which I can magnify my talents and abilities as well as help an office grow to it's full potential.
I would probably use this in a cover letter for a resume or in an interview setting. However, in an interview setting I would edit it appropriately to fit the questions being asked.

Lesson 7-Webquest

Lesson 7- A Tempting Ten

Healthcare
1. Dental Hygienist
2. Pharmacist
3. Dental assistant
4. Registered nurse
5. Dietitian
6. Doctor
7. Optometrist
8. Massage therapist
9. Dentist
10. Radiology tech

Accounting
1. Payroll
2. Office administrator
3. Tax analyst
4. Banker
6. Student financial aid officer
7. Accountant
8. Finance Manager
9. CFO
10. Investment banker

Lesson 6- SWOT Analysis

Natalie Ek
March 24, 2011
Academic Plan SWOT Analysis
Major: Dental Hygiene
School planning on Transferring to: Cypress Community College, CA
School academic advisor: Kelly Carter
Classes I have already taken:
• Soc 1010- Intro to Sociology
• Psy 1010- Intro to Psychology
• Comm 1020-Public Speaking
• Zool 2320-Anataomy
• Zool 2320 Lab-Anatomy lab
• Chem 1110- Elementary Chemistry for Health Sciences
• Nutr 1020-Nutrition
• Eng 1010- English Into to writing
• Bio 1010- Essential Biology
• Micro 2060- Microbiology for Health Professionals
Classes I still need to take next semester Fall 2011:
• Zool 2420- Physiology
• Zool 2420- Physiology lab
• Chem 1120- Bio and Organic Chemistry for health professionals
• Stats 2040- Statistics
I have chosen this major because it is what I am passionate about. I find it interesting. I have worked as a dental hygiene assistant for many years and I am good at that job, I enjoy interacting with patients, educating them on their health and hygiene habits. I find the subject of the human body extremely interesting. I do understand however that with these strengths comes a few weaknesses. Anything in life worth achieving doesn’t come easily. I struggle with the level of difficulty with some of my science courses. Even though they may be interesting, in order to be accepted into a dental hygiene program you must have very good grades, often straight A’s, and sometimes this can be extremely frustrating especially when you end up with a B+ in a course you work really hard at and have to retake it the next semester. It has taken me longer than expected because of this. I have invested a lot of time and money into my education. Many people tell me to pursue something easier, but this is my passion and although it’s at times a rough road, it will be worth it in the end.
When I decided on going to school to get my degree, I decided I would only do it if I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I told myself that there is no point in taking all this time going to classes and investing money in an education if I am not coming out with a specific career. I have seen too many people do that and now have a Bachelors degree but no job or interests in a certain job. I plan on graduation in June 2014. I have researched the most affordable and best school for me to apply to for my Dental hygiene program and am fortunate to have had advice from many others who have already traveled down this same path.
Even though dental hygiene school is expensive, I feel it is an investment that will return. While doing my prerequisites I have weighed out the pros and cons of this major. It’s difficult; there are no questions there. I have thought about easier majors, but my heart keeps me here. I love teeth, I have always wanted to work with patients dental hygiene, I know I will be good at this job, I truly find happiness in it. Many struggle once they graduate and start working because although they enjoyed learning about their future career they found out once they started working they didn’t actually like their career. I feel my struggle is the opposite, the challenge for me comes in the prerequisite courses, once I am through those, I know I will enjoy my work. And that comes from previously working as an assistant to this field. So although the threats of keeping me from finishing are great, I feel my passion and desire are what keep me focused and determined.

Lesson 4-Skills assessment

I learned that I am suited for a job in engineering and my third job down was a dentist, which was reassuring because I want to work in the dental field. I have worked as a dental assistant for many years so my skills acquired during these past 5 years have helped me be ready for the future I am pursuing in dental hygiene. My skills that I enjoy, am good at and want to develop are:
Skills I enjoy: organizing, cleaning, diagnosing
Skills I am good at: connecting, problem solving, communicating
Skills I want to develop: Planning, designing, and budgeting
I think that I can work on these 3 last skills in my personal life. Sometimes my work and school life are all in order but my personal life is a mess. I find it interesting that the planning; designing and budgeting are the 3 that I need to work on. I am AWFUL with planning and budgeting, and ask me to design something and I am a wreck. I do not have a creative bone in my body. However, I plan on working and developing these skills because I feel that they are essential to being a valuable employee. I can work on these by establishing a budget for the next month and also a calendar to plan out this month’s assignments, activities, goals, etc. That would also help with my design problem. Maybe taking an art class would be neat too.

Lesson 4-Transferrable Skills Letter

To whom it may concern,
I am responding to your advertisement found on the allied heath job board, regarding  the dental hygiene position. Please regard this letter as my formal application. Enclosed are my acquired skills showing my experience and background.

With the experiences I have had in the dental field as a hygiene assistant, I have learned how important it is to communicate properly in a uncomfortable environment and make people feel at ease. While being an assistant I was able learn how to handle stressful situations and deal with many kinds of people. I was able to assess their needs and delegate responsibility  to help coordinate the proper care to solve the problem.

I am available for an interview at a mutually convenient time. Please contact me via email.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Natalie Ek

Lesson 3-Personal Values

My top ten work and personal values:

1. Respect

2. Honesty

3. Integrity

4. Loyalty

5. Achievement

6. Individual worth

7. Family Relationships

8. Spiritual development

9. Friendships

10. Security

I have chosen these values because I feel that help make me a better person. When working among other colleagues I have noticed that when someone has set values, they tend to be more enjoyable to be around. I feel that having strong values gives you a better foundation. Having a strong foundation makes you a better employee; more confident individual and you are in turn able to handle more responsibility.

In choosing a career path, I feel that my values #1-6 set a standard for the type of life I desire to live. I feel that my job is important, however it is not what makes me the person I strive to be. I also feel that values #7-9 help contribute to that balance that is so necessary; my family, my religion and my career all influence that. When you are well balanced and have a strong value system in place, you have more strength, confidence and happiness in the workplace.

I have found that when I do not uphold my values, my work ethic suffers along with many other relationships I perceive as important. My values have not necessarily changed but more so have been established through life experiences. That may continue, as I get older and more experienced in life. I may add values such as time with family or financial security as I have children, where currently those aren’t as important at this time in my life.

Mission Statement

I am a sophomore in college attending UVU studying to become a dental hygienist. I spend quality time with my family and value this time watching my nieces and nephews grow up. I work hard trying to achieve my goals while working a job and being a full time student. In my free time I find myself developing my talents and serving others.