Core Competencies

Anchor 1

Apply a professional code of ethics in all endeavors.

C.1:

Use critical thinking skills and comprehensive problem-solving to identify oral health care needs.

C.3:

Personal Philosophy

"As a dental hygienist, it is my duty to believe that certain acts are morally right because they are intrinsically right regardless of their consequences or results. I chose dental hygiene as my profession because I knew it was a way that I could help people daily, not only in that moment but long term as well. As a dental hygienist, not only am I an educator, but also act as a preventive step in disease. Building onto that, I commit to do my best as a health care provider to give my up most care to all my patients, no matter the positive or negative consequences. In the work place, if I am put in a situation that could negatively affect a patient, it is my responsibility to do what is right, even if that could mean losing my job.

I base majority of my actions on honesty, self-respect, respect from others, and happiness. It is important to me that those values show in my practice, and with that are reciprocated back by my patients."

As a dental hygienist it is likely to be faced with an ethical dilemma in the office. Throughout school, I have been taught the dental hygiene code of ethics, and will continue to follow them throughout my career.

In school we were presented with an ethical dilemma that involved critical thinking of how we would handle the issue as a hygienist. Using critical thinking and the code of ethics I was able to come up with a solution. Below I have attached the ethical dilemma paper which states the issue presented and the chosen solution.

Ethical Dilemma Paper