Try sinking your teeth into on-the-job learning
AFTER just 18 months, Anika Mohammed has been promoted from apprentice dental nurse to head nurse at her practice.
Anika, 19, from south Birmingham, began her apprenticeship in September 2015 and completed it last February.
She completed a Level 3 dental nursing qualification at Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) while working at Village Dental Surgery in Acocks Green, Birmingham.
As part of her apprenticeship, Anika learned to support dental nurses and surgeons, but also spent one day a week at BMet, studying health promotion, clinical skills, first aid and practice management.
Anika admits: ‘When I left school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. As most of my friends had chosen to study health and social care at college, I did the same, but soon realised I didn’t want to be in class all day every day.
‘I started to think about apprenticeships, and about a week after I got in touch with BMet about dental nurse roles, they’d found this job for me.
‘Dental nursing isn’t just about cleaning patients’ teeth. You have to get to know people, and sometimes get them to trust you. It can be challenging to explain to children that oral health is linked to other medical conditions. You have to find different ways to help them take in what you’re saying.
‘And with some patients you have to convince them to change their diet and lifestyle.
‘At the end of the day, it’s about making people look and feel better about themselves.’
Anika’s enthusiasm and studying quickly paid off, and she was given additional responsibilities.
She adds: ‘I even stayed behind after hours to ensure the surgeries were clean and tidy, ready for the next day’s patients. When the head nurse left, the practice manager asked me to take on the role and I agreed immediately.
‘There are parts of the business I’m keen to develop, and maybe after that I’ll look at developing my knowledge through courses in radiography. I’ll also be helping to train the next dental nurse apprentice who joins us.’
She says: ‘Never in a million years would I have expected to do so well in my career this early on.’