This is Sue’s 23rd year, but who’s counting? I will paraphrase in her own word the reasons why she stayed and worked as a dental nurse. 

“I answered an ad in our local newspaper for a position as a dental nurse. I always admired the dental nurses growing up and going to the dentist myself and thought I would like to do that when I grew up.

Dr Seymour was kind enough to give me the opportunity to realise my dream of being a dental nurse. He was very patient with me and can say that it was very challenging learning a new field of occupation that previously I had no experience in. He took the time to explain why we did things the way we did and so many other factors that make running a practice efficiently. I loved the new opportunities that working in the medical field brought with it. I have always loved people and the transition of assisting the dentist in so many varied factors. Working as a dental nurse was and is still very interesting; from assisting in the surgery, to sterilising the instruments and bar coding them.

The nurses rotate in the surgery so as not to be in the chair all day in sometimes challenging positions, when we assist. This takes off the pressure and makes the work all the more interesting. We average at least two hours in the chair and then will work on the front desk answering phones and making appointments and doing the payments. Over the years I have been trained in implant surgery, bone grafting and we also have an anaesthetist who comes for patients who prefer to have wisdom teeth extractions or other procedures under sedation. I also do the stock take of the surgery and am responsible for the stock not to run out!

I enjoy immensely the patient interaction and have grown to love and respect so many of our precious patients. The nurses have formed great friendship with the patients and we listen and appreciate them and the feeling is mutual.

These are some of the reasons why I love working at Seymour Dental.”

Sue has decided to have a well-earned retirement to her much loved south coast of New South Wales. She will be missed and she says thank you all the patients she has gotten know over the many years.