• 2212973

Dental Assistant

Requisition 2212973

Your Role:

Assists in preventive, therapeutic, cosmetic and other dental services with occasional guidance by a board certified dentist.

Department Summary:

Oral health is an important part of your overall wellbeing. Our experienced dentists and oral surgeons offer everything from general dentistry to complex surgeries and reconstruction.

About Vanderbilt Oral Health:

Vanderbilt Oral Health includes two clinics: General Dentistry, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Together, these clinics provide a full range of dental services with the expert and compassionate care you expect from Vanderbilt.

General Dentistry:

Vanderbilt's experienced dental team provides a full range of services.

• Routine cleanings and check-ups
• Crowns, bridges, dentures and other restoration
• Cosmetic procedures
• Complex dental care for cancer, heart and transplant patients

Our Commitment to Your Dental Health:

Whatever your oral health need, our commitment is the same.

• Exceptional care
• Clear communication about your conditions and treatment options
• A team approach involving you in all treatment decisions

Position Shift:

• This position is Monday – Friday (Days). 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. It is a place where your diversity — of culture, thinking, learning and leading — is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

VUMC Recent Accomplishments:

• Because we are committed to providing the best in patient care, education and research, we are proud of our recent accomplishments:
• US News & World Report: #1 Hospital in Tennessee, #1 Health Care Provider in Nashville, #1 Audiology (Bill Wilkerson Center), 9 adult and 9 pediatric clinical specialties ranked among the nation's best, #15 Education and Training
• Truven Health Analytics: among the top 100 hospitals in the US
• Becker's Hospital Review: one of the "100 Greatest Hospitals in America"
• The Leapfrog Group: grade "A" in Hospital Safety Score
• National Institutes of Health: among the top 10 grant awardees for medical research in the US
• American Association for the Advancement of Science: 12 faculty members elected fellows in 2014
• Magnet Recognition Program: Vanderbilt nurses are the only group honored in Tennessee
• Nashville Business Journal: Middle Tennessee's healthiest employer
• American Hospital Association: among the 100 "Most Wired" medical systems in the US

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs dental assistant duties.
• Prepares patient for procedure and/or exam.
• Provides patient with instructions.
• Maintenance and cleaning of equipment.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES:

PATIENT EXAM ROOM CARE - (NOVICE):- Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate patient exam room care in practical applications of moderate difficulty.

DENTAL TERMINOLOGY (NOVICE):- Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate dental terminology in practical applications of moderate difficulty.

STERILIZATION PREPARATION (NOVICE):- Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate sterilization preparation in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.

PATIENT DOCUMENTATION - (NOVICE):- Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate patient documentation in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Organizational Impact: Performs tasks that are typically routine that may impact team's performance with occasional guidance.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Applies knowledge of standards, established processes and procedure that apply to your own job.
• Team Interaction: Provides guidance to entry level co-workers.

CORE CAPABILITIES:

SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES (S2):

• Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
• Builds and Maintains Relationships : Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.
• Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.

DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICES (S2):

• Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
• Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
• Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.

ENSURING HIGH QUALITY (S2):

• Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
• Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.
• Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.

MANAGING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY (S2):

• Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.
• Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.
• Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.

FOSTERING INNOVATION (S2):

• Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
• Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
• Adapts to Change: Embraces change by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled

Graduate of an approved discipline specific program (or equivalent experience) and < 1 year relevant industry.

Preferred Education, Skills, and Experiences:

• 2+ Years of experience highly desired

Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration (LCR):

• Registered Dental Assistant Required

Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:

• Light Work category requiring exertion up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally and uses negligible amounts of force to move objects.

Movement

• Occasional: Walking: Moving about on foot.
• Occasional: Lifting over 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects from one level to another, includes upward pulling over 35 lbs, with help of coworkers or assistive device
• Occasional: Carrying under 35 lbs: Transporting an object holding in hands, arms or shoulders, with help of coworkers or assistive device.
• Occasional: Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward.
• Occasional: Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching or maneuvering self, patient and equipment simultaneously while working in large and small spaces
• Occasional: Climbing: Ascending or descending stairs/ramps using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.
• Occasional: Reaching above shoulders: Extending arms in any direction above shoulders.
• Occasional: Fingering: Picking, pinching, gripping, working primarily with fingers requiring fine manipulation.
• Frequent: Sitting: Remaining in seated position
• Frequent: Standing: Remaining on one's feet without moving.
• Frequent: Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another
• Frequent: Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles
• Frequent: Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders.
• Frequent: Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands.
• Frequent: Bimanual Dexterity: Requiring the use of both hands.

Sensory

• Continuous: Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information.
• Continuous: Auditory: Perceiving the variances of sounds, tones and pitches and able to focus on single source of auditory information
• Continuous: Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision.
• Continuous: Smell: Ability to detect and identify odors.

Environmental Conditions

• Occasional: Chemicals and Gasses: Medications, cleaning chemicals, oxygen, other medical gases used in work area.
• Occasional: Pathogens: Risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other contagious illnesses.