An assistant in your practice is thinking of applying for a surgical assistant position that has been advertised in the local newspaper. She thinks it would be a more challenging position, but she isn’t 100% sure she wants to apply. She enjoys working in a general practice and has gotten to know several of the families, as well as their relatives in some instances. She was even invited to a wedding shower for the bride of a couple who met in the reception area of your clinic. She says she likes the laid-back attitude of the dentist, and the staff seems to get along quite well. Her reason for seeking a different professional avenue is simply that she feels that she is ready for more challenge. To help her make a decision about seeking an interview, you urge her to research the duties and role of the oral surgeon and the duties of a surgical assistant and to make a spreadsheet. Column 1 is General Practice: duties, roles, and expectations. Column 2 is Oral Surgeon: duties, roles, and expectations. What would you expect to find on this spreadsheet, and what aspects of the surgical assistant duties do you think will influence her decision?
