Dental Nursing

[Jody Anne]

Hey all,
As you may already know on my intro thread, I am a trainee Dental Nurse and it was my Dentist (who suffers from Aspergers) who noticed signs of Dyspraxia in me. I find it really hard to do my job. It involves alot of concentration (which I have very little of), organisation (rubbish), practical work like mixing and fixing (I find very difficult as I am constantly dropping things and can't get the idea of amounts if that makes sense), following instructions and requests (which have to be explained more than thrice!), Listening to conversations, remembering it and typing it up exactly as it was said (I never get this right which is a bit of a hoo ha as my notes are legal documents at the end of the day :/), and the biggy...I STILL can't get the hang of left and right after 12 months of doing the course...
I am lucky to have the Dentist I work with who understands my clumsiness and forgetfulness and helps me get through the day. It really knocks my confidence as most days I feel incompetent especially as I get the other nurses telling me to remember this and that which I should know by now or shouldn't have forgotten about in the first place. I feel "thick" and useless some days and ask myself "What am I doing?! maybe if I stand still the world will be a better place" lol
I was just wondering if anyone else has difficulties at work? Maybe discriminated or getting help of their employer and fellow employees.
I'm going to my GP tomorrow to try and go about getting a diagnosis although I am convinced I have Dyspraxia, so wish me luck everyone and I hope everyone is ok at work!

Jody x

[Evasura]

Hi,
Welcome to the world of uncerteinty (?) how old are you? diagnosis seems to depend very much on your age and on how sensitive and informed your gp is. Check out around the forum about diagnosis. I am sorry I can't help you more with it, but I have been in your same situation as you are now for months, trying to get a diagnosis, and still struggling to get a referral fom the gp. No reply after two visits. Some people here have been luckier than me. Others go private. Otherwise, if you are convinced that you are dyspraxic and know your limits, you can always live without being officially diagnose, as many around the forum do.
Anyway, welcome to the forum. It'll help you realise if you are dyspraxic or not, as if you are, many thinks that you may have thought that were just you, are actually symptoms of dyspraxia. (though not sure yet how this helps)

[Cheetarah]

Jody Anne,
Are you still at college? If you are and you ask Learning Support (it may have another name, ask your tutor). Its the department that supports students with learning disabilitied like dyspraxia and dyslexia. They'll be able to put you through for an assessment with an educational psychologist. Hope you succeed at accomplish your dreams

L x

[betamax]

Hello Jody Anne,

I am a dyspraxic, registered dental nurse and would be delighted to help answer your questions.

Mark.