Maddie Atkins
I met a lady who works part time in practice management. Three days a week.
Alan: I’d love some idea of how you got where you are now, what you do now and how you see the future.
Alan: How did you finish up working for a dentist? Any dentists, dental nurses in your family background?
Maddie: No dentist whatsoever. I’m a Burnie girl and I moved down with my partner and it was completely random for me to apply for this position.
Alan: So you had no burning desire to work in dentistry?
Maddie: It was random.
Maddie: I knew a girl working in dentistry. And she told me to apply for the job. So I went for it.
Alan: What did you expect before you turned up here? What were you expecting to do?
Maddie: I didn’t have a clue. I knew nothing about dentistry.
Alan: I assume when you were a child you went to a dentist.
Maddie: Of course.
Alan: Did you go regularly to your regular dentist?
Maddie: Yes
Alan: Did you like the dentist?
Maddie: No.
Laughter
Alan: Did you like the dental nurses?
Maddie: Yes they were nice.
Alan: You just saw a random job for a dentist and you applied for it. When you turned up for the interview how did that go?
Maddie: They were quiet cruisey. They asked me about customer service.
Alan: Is that what you have done since then?
Maddie: Yes just admin. Just been in the reception.
Alan: Do you ever go in the surgery? See what they do.
Maddie: I check it out sometimes.
Alan: Have you learnt anything about dentistry?
Maddie: Pretty much everything.
Alan: Would you like to be a dental nurse?
Maddie: Probably not. No.
Alan: Why not?
Maddie: I don’t think I could deal with the blood and stuff. The body fluids.
Alan: Is this what the dental nurses talk about at lunch time?
Maddie: They talk about all the bleeding and people coughing up their lungs. And people missing the bowl.
Laughter
Alan: What were you expecting to do on the desk?
Maddie: Dealing with patients. Booking them in. Talking to them in a nice manner.
Alan: On the phone and those that walk in. What is the difference?
Maddie: The ones directly front of you are more difficult.
Laughter
Alan: You also have to deal with the dentist and dental nurse as well as the patient.
Maddie: Everybody.
Alan: You job is dealing with people?
Maddie: Keep them all in line.
Alan: What is the most important part of your job?
Maddie: Keeping the patients happy. And the dentist happy. And the nurse. All of the above.
Alan: What do you enjoy about the work?
Maddie: The people that work here. The people around me. Staff, nurses and patients. I build some relationships with patients.
Alan: You like to speak to them.
Maddie: Yes.
Alan: Where can you see yourself in the future?
Maddie: Still here. Working in admin. Unless I’ve moved back to Burnie.
Alan: Not branching into the surgery.
Maddie: I don’t think I’ll do that.
Alan: Because of the body fluids.
Laughter
Alan: In 20 years can you imagine your daughter as a dentist?
Maddie: Yes I’d like that.
Alan: What would you prefer her to do? Work in the surgery or reception?
Maddie: Whatever pleases her.
Alan: So long as she has good teeth.
Laughter.
Alan: Coming to work here. How is it different from what you expected?
Maddie: I thought the dentist were going to be really healthy in the staff room eat healthy food.
Laughter
Maddie: When I started working here I thought I would have to eat vegan tofu and sprouts.
Alan: Anything you’ve found out that dentists do, apart from the food they eat, that has surprised you?
Maddie: Nightguards and anti-snoring devices.
Alan: When you have people coming in do you give them advice on cleaning their teeth. What would you tell them?
Maddie: Brush twice a day.
Alan: If someone has had a filling what advice would you give them?
Maddie: They normally say when can I eat. I say you are a bit numb so be careful with hot food and drinks but you can start eating.
Maddie is an integral part of her dental practice and never goes in the dental surgery. If I was to sneakily move the sticky tape in her room she would immediately notice and then move it back where it belongs. She is efficient, effective and loves her work. Her work is helping everybody she encounters and putting the sticky tape in its right place.
Alan: I’d love some idea of how you got where you are now, what you do now and how you see the future.
Alan: How did you finish up working for a dentist? Any dentists, dental nurses in your family background?
Maddie: No dentist whatsoever. I’m a Burnie girl and I moved down with my partner and it was completely random for me to apply for this position.
Alan: So you had no burning desire to work in dentistry?
Maddie: It was random.
Maddie: I knew a girl working in dentistry. And she told me to apply for the job. So I went for it.
Alan: What did you expect before you turned up here? What were you expecting to do?
Maddie: I didn’t have a clue. I knew nothing about dentistry.
Alan: I assume when you were a child you went to a dentist.
Maddie: Of course.
Alan: Did you go regularly to your regular dentist?
Maddie: Yes
Alan: Did you like the dentist?
Maddie: No.
Laughter
Alan: Did you like the dental nurses?
Maddie: Yes they were nice.
Alan: You just saw a random job for a dentist and you applied for it. When you turned up for the interview how did that go?
Maddie: They were quiet cruisey. They asked me about customer service.
Alan: Is that what you have done since then?
Maddie: Yes just admin. Just been in the reception.
Alan: Do you ever go in the surgery? See what they do.
Maddie: I check it out sometimes.
Alan: Have you learnt anything about dentistry?
Maddie: Pretty much everything.
Alan: Would you like to be a dental nurse?
Maddie: Probably not. No.
Alan: Why not?
Maddie: I don’t think I could deal with the blood and stuff. The body fluids.
Alan: Is this what the dental nurses talk about at lunch time?
Maddie: They talk about all the bleeding and people coughing up their lungs. And people missing the bowl.
Laughter
Alan: What were you expecting to do on the desk?
Maddie: Dealing with patients. Booking them in. Talking to them in a nice manner.
Alan: On the phone and those that walk in. What is the difference?
Maddie: The ones directly front of you are more difficult.
Laughter
Alan: You also have to deal with the dentist and dental nurse as well as the patient.
Maddie: Everybody.
Alan: You job is dealing with people?
Maddie: Keep them all in line.
Alan: What is the most important part of your job?
Maddie: Keeping the patients happy. And the dentist happy. And the nurse. All of the above.
Alan: What do you enjoy about the work?
Maddie: The people that work here. The people around me. Staff, nurses and patients. I build some relationships with patients.
Alan: You like to speak to them.
Maddie: Yes.
Alan: Where can you see yourself in the future?
Maddie: Still here. Working in admin. Unless I’ve moved back to Burnie.
Alan: Not branching into the surgery.
Maddie: I don’t think I’ll do that.
Alan: Because of the body fluids.
Laughter
Alan: In 20 years can you imagine your daughter as a dentist?
Maddie: Yes I’d like that.
Alan: What would you prefer her to do? Work in the surgery or reception?
Maddie: Whatever pleases her.
Alan: So long as she has good teeth.
Laughter.
Alan: Coming to work here. How is it different from what you expected?
Maddie: I thought the dentist were going to be really healthy in the staff room eat healthy food.
Laughter
Maddie: When I started working here I thought I would have to eat vegan tofu and sprouts.
Alan: Anything you’ve found out that dentists do, apart from the food they eat, that has surprised you?
Maddie: Nightguards and anti-snoring devices.
Alan: When you have people coming in do you give them advice on cleaning their teeth. What would you tell them?
Maddie: Brush twice a day.
Alan: If someone has had a filling what advice would you give them?
Maddie: They normally say when can I eat. I say you are a bit numb so be careful with hot food and drinks but you can start eating.
Maddie is an integral part of her dental practice and never goes in the dental surgery. If I was to sneakily move the sticky tape in her room she would immediately notice and then move it back where it belongs. She is efficient, effective and loves her work. Her work is helping everybody she encounters and putting the sticky tape in its right place.