Rachel Hewitson

I currently work in the maxillofacial department at Crosshouse hospital on a fixed term basis. I have worked in a mixed nhs / private dental practice for 8 years prior to my current job.

My role purpose is providing a high standard of care to our patients and to the families attending our department and providing a high standard of work within the clinical setting. In my current role as a Specialist Dental Nurse I assist the doctor / clinicians in a very wide range of treatments such as; biopsy’s, oral surgery, orthodontics, restorative dentistry, setting up appropriate equipment such as Bipolar machine, Surgical drills, Nasooscope, assisting the staff nurse of the department in the wound management clinics. Another very important role I have within the department is ensuring all pathology and paperwork correspond with one another and this is always double checked with another member of staff and to ensure specimen is placed correctly in pot to match up with paperwork and to ensure the pathology is taken along to the appropriate lab at the end of each session. I am confident in providing post-op instructions to our patients after each procedure carried out in our clinics.
A very important role I have is to facilitate the daily set up of the clinical environment whilst adhering to NHS Scotland Infection Prevention and Control Management - everything we do within the local aesthetics list and treatment theatre list are carried out in a sterile environment and therefore I have great experience in being completely sterile to provide appropriate care to all of our patients and meeting with all of our patients needs.

My previous role as senior dental nurse consisted of preparing and maintaining a clinical environment to work in. I worked very closely with the clinician

assisting them with a wide range of treatment carried out within general practice such as; restorative work, extractions, hygiene, examinations,

endodontics. I always aim to provide the highest standard of care to make our patients feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

Another part of my role includes sterilisation of instruments within the LDU and ensuring all equipment is working correctly by carrying out daily tests

and keeping log books for all LDU equipment.

In this role I also have experience in reception / admin work, this consists of - checking all practice emails are up to date, stock control, answering

phone calls, triaging dental emergencies, organising appointment book and taking payments. I covered practice manager duties when my manager was off

on annual leave, this has given me great experience in this role and has therefore made me a very organised person. As well as being an organised

person I am also a very calm, relaxed hard working individual which is very much relevant to my current role.

I have trained a number of trainee dental nurses throughout my time working in dental practice helping them achieve their dental nurse qualification. I find this highly rewarding to be able to transfer my knowledge and dental nursing skills to others to help them progress in their career.