Career Choices

I've been feeling alot better lately, so have been thinking about work, which in itself is a big thing for me after 9 years of ill health.

I like the thought of training to do something. Well, in an ideal world I know what I want to do. I've always wanted to be an astronomer. Yep, a boffin that looks up at the sky. I LOVE anything to do with space, and even understand the basics of space physics. But alas, that's where my braininess runs out. I only got a CC on my science GCSE, so I don't think I'd make a great astronomer :(

So, in it's place, I came up with afew possibilities, revolving around health care and helping people - pharmacy technician, laboratory assistant, childs nurse - but the one that stuck out for me was dental nursing.

Now, I'm slightly scared of dentists. So why on earth would I want to be a dental nurse?! I don't know, to be honest! But my Mum was a dental nurse so I kind of know what it's about - it's in the family. The thing is now in the UK you have to be registered to work as a dental nurse, which has changed since my Mum did it, and to be registered you need qualifications. So I had a look into it.

To start with you need to get a job at either a hospital, dental practice or within the armed services as a trainee/student dental nurse. Then you need to enrol on a 2 year course recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) - such as the National Certificate awarded by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN), NVQ level 3 in Dental Nursing, level 3 VRQ in Dental Nursing, or the Certificate of Higher Education in Dental Nursing. Phew! Lots to think about. But like I said, I like the thought of training to do something so it all looks good to me. And I like the thought of having to wear a uniform - it would make me feel important lol!

So my next step is to go and ask my local dentist (who I've known for years and years) if she has any tips or advice for me, and if she knows of a place looking for a trainee nurse. It's something I'd really like to do, I've even started learning different dental terms and studying charts lol! Good to have a head start, I suppose!

Wish me luck!