COMPETENCIES FOR ENTRY INTO THE PROFESSION OF DENTAL HYGIENE Dental hygienists must complete an accredited educational program and qualify for licensure in any state or jurisdiction. Hygienists practice in collaboration with dental and other healthcare professionals in a variety of settings. The following are American Dental Education Association competencies to be achieved by dental hygiene students: Core Competencies (C): • C.1 Apply a professional code of ethics in all endeavors. • C.2 Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations, and regulations in the provision of oral health care. • C.3 Use critical thinking skills and comprehensive problem-solving to identify oral health care strategies that promote patient health and wellness. • C.4 Use evidence-based decision making to evaluate emerging technology and treatment modalities to integrate into patient dental hygiene care plans to achieve high-quality, cost- effective care. • C.5 Assume responsibility for professional actions and care based on accepted scientific theories, research, and the accepted standard of care. • C.6 Continuously perform self-assessment for lifelong learning and professional growth. • C.7 Integrate accepted scientific theories and research into educational, preventive, and therapeutic oral health services. • C.8 Promote the values of the dental hygiene profession through service-based activities, positive community affiliations, and active involvement in local organizations. • C.9 Apply quality assurance mechanisms to ensure continuous commitment to accepted standards of care. • C.10 Communicate effectively with diverse individuals and groups, serving all persons without discrimination by acknowledging and appreciating diversity. • C.11 Record accurate, consistent, and complete documentation of oral health services provided. • C.12 Initiate a collaborative approach with all patients when developing individualized care plans that are specialized, comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and acceptable to all parties involved in care planning. • C.13 Initiate consultations and collaborations with all relevant health care providers to facilitate optimal treatments. • C.14 Manage medical emergencies by using professional judgment, providing life support, and utilizing required CPR and any specialized training or knowledge.
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Hodges University Student Handbook
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