We often have students come back to us saying that one of the big things they had to learn about in their placement was about what is expected of them in their healthcare role. Different countries have different sets of responsibilities attached to each position. When you are used to working as you do at home, it can take a bit of getting used too!

This week, we asked our students “how does the role of physio / nurse / dentist / medic or midwife differ overseas to what you are used to at home?”.

Saesol shares mate - a traditional Argentinian drink - with the doctors

Natalia from Argentina was the first to respond. The three Scottish dental students in the house have found that their role combines dentistry with elements of nursing and with only two assistants for four dentists, they have to do a lot of the assistants work. Lauren also thinks the “style in Argentina is more old fashioned, in the way that here the dentist says what he is going to do and the patient accepts it. Back in Scotland, there is a lot more questioning from the patient, like the dentist has to justify what he’s doing and why he’s doing it, and presents a list of options to the patient with its implications and posible consequences, so that the patient is fully aware of the procedure and is able to choose”. Briege and Rachael agreed, adding that “treatments are short term, there are not planned in advance as it is in Scotland. There is also no standard treatment, which means that the treatments are more subject to the dentist’s discretion”. They are also all enjoying being called Dr’s – in Scotland they do not get that title!

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