Unmasking the daily struggles of dental nurses

Unmasking the daily struggles of dental nurses

Sarah Mckimm discusses her journey from dental nurse to counsellor. The daily challenges that dental nurses face and her advice to those who are struggling. 

I’m Sarah, and I’m a qualified dental nurse registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and a counsellor qualified to degree level. I’m also a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and National Counselling Society (NCPS).

Over two decades ago, I embarked on my journey in the dental profession. Working as a trainee at a small independently-owned practice. Having honed my skills and acquired the necessary qualifications, I ventured into private practice with a specialisation in orthodontics. As well as oral surgery, and endodontics. The diverse experiences gained in these fields broadened my expertise.

Despite professional growth, I circled back to my initial workplace. Developing relationships with both colleagues and patients over my 20 years in practice.

In the course of my career, professional development led me to an advanced dental nurse role. As the decontamination lead, head nurse, and oral health educator, I delivered oral health sessions, imparting crucial knowledge to patients about oral health routines.

Witnessing the positive impact on oral health reinforced my commitment to excellence in patient care, marking a fulfilling chapter in my extensive and dynamic career. I continued to contribute my skills and dedication until a recent change in which I made the decision to leave dentistry to focus on progressing my counselling practice.

Becoming a counsellor

The decision to train as a counsellor derived from personal experience of therapy due to the mental health challenges I faced following an abusive relationship.

I was struggling to be the dental nurse that I prided myself on being. I was stuck in a dysregulated state through unprocessed trauma and, although I found solace and stability in my role as a dental nurse, my self-doubt, low self-esteem and anxiety impacted my professionalism and ability to perform my duties in the high-pressure fast paced environment I had always thrived in.