My Digital Journey: From Engineering to Oral Health
Hey there! I’m currently deep into my studies to become an oral health professional here in Finland. It’s a huge shift from my past life as a civil engineer, but it’s a field I’m truly passionate about. My days are packed with lectures, assignments, group projects, and lots of communication with my teachers and classmates. And guess what? Digital tools are at the heart of it all.
My Go-To Digital Tools for Student Life
When it comes to my studies, three tools are absolute lifesavers: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Moodle.
- Microsoft Teams is basically our virtual classroom hub. I hop on for live lectures, jump into group discussions, and message my classmates. It’s also super handy for sharing files and working on projects together.
- Zoom is our go-to for online meetings, especially when we have awesome guest lecturers or external workshops. It’s so easy to use and really stable, even for those longer sessions.
- Moodle is where all the magic happens for learning. It helps me keep track of deadlines, grab study materials, and submit my assignments. I’m on Moodle pretty much every single day!
Before I moved to Finland, I was a civil engineer back home. I spent my days designing and overseeing construction projects, which meant I was constantly using digital tools like AutoCAD for drawings, project management software to keep things on track, and even WhatsApp to chat with workers and clients. That experience gave me a really solid foundation in digital communication and problem-solving, which has been incredibly helpful now. Even though oral health and construction seem worlds apart, both fields demand a good grasp of technology. I feel like my engineering background helps me pick up new platforms quickly and make the most of them in my current studies.
Social Media in My Future: A Dental Hygienist’s Perspective
Looking ahead, I see so many exciting opportunities to use social media as an oral hygienist. These platforms can really boost communication, education, professional growth, and even help spread vital health awareness. Let me tell you how I plan to use five key tools: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Mobiilivarmenne.
Facebook has so much potential! As an oral hygienist, I can use it to follow and share reliable educational content from trusted sources. I can also join professional groups where colleagues swap tips, share job openings, and brainstorm useful ideas.
If I end up working in a clinic, I might even help manage their Facebook page to post reminders, share dental care tips, or update people on clinic news. It’s a great way to build stronger relationships and trust with the local community.
But, there are definitely downsides. Facebook is notorious for spreading misinformation, especially about health. Plus, it can be tricky to keep personal and professional use separate, which can cause headaches. Because of this, I’ll only use Facebook professionally—to share general info or chat with colleagues, never with patients directly.
YouTube
YouTube is a powerhouse for learning and teaching! I already use it constantly for instructional videos on dental instruments, patient care techniques, and anatomy.
In the future, I could even create short, super easy-to-follow videos explaining basic oral care. Imagine a quick video showing the correct brushing technique or how to floss properly—especially helpful for kids or older folks who need really clear guidance.
Of course, not everything on YouTube is reliable, and some videos push unsafe information or products. So, it’s crucial to only point patients to trusted channels. Overall, I find YouTube incredibly useful and will definitely keep using it for learning and educating others.
WhatsApp is a quick and easy way to communicate, and I used it a lot as a civil engineer to send quick updates to my teams. I think it could be really useful in a healthcare setting too—for things like coordinating schedules, reminding colleagues about meetings, or sharing general team info.
However, WhatsApp is absolutely not suitable for sharing patient information or discussing sensitive topics, as it doesn’t meet health privacy standards. Another risk is that it might blur the lines between work and personal life if people use it outside of working hours. So, in my future role, I’ll only use WhatsApp for internal team communication, never for patient data.
LinkedIn is fantastic for professional growth. I already use it to follow health associations, read industry articles, and connect with other healthcare professionals. I’ll definitely continue using it to stay on top of industry news, scout out job opportunities, and share my own professional experiences.
Patients don’t typically use LinkedIn, but it’s essential for building a strong professional network. It’s a great place to show my commitment to learning and developing my skills
Mobiilivarmenne (Mobile ID)
Mobiilivarmenne is a secure electronic tool widely used here in Finland for identity verification and accessing digital services. As a future dental hygienist, I’ll need to access health records and sign official documents, and this app makes it all secure and legal.
It’s incredibly convenient, especially for logging into official health portals. The only downside is if my phone gets lost or broken, it can delay things. But overall, it’s an essential tool in the Finnish work environment.
My Top Picks for Future Work
Out of these five tools, I believe the three most impactful for my future work are YouTube, LinkedIn, and Mobiilivarmenne.
- I chose YouTube because it’s perfect for both learning and teaching. It lets me explain health topics in a visual and super easy-to-understand way.
- LinkedIn is vital for my long-term professional growth. It keeps me connected to the professional world and helps me stay informed.
- Mobiilivarmenne is non-negotiable for ensuring the security and privacy of information in healthcare.
As for Facebook and WhatsApp, I’d be much more cautious with them and would definitely not use them to communicate with patients.
What Makes Digital Tools Shine in Healthcare?
From my experience, truly successful digital tools in healthcare share a few key characteristics:
- Privacy and Security: They absolutely must protect sensitive information and follow all the relevant laws.
- Ease of Use: They need to be simple for everyone to use, even those who aren’t super tech-savvy.
- Accessibility: They should work well on all devices, whether you’re on your phone or a desktop.
- Trusted Content: Especially in healthcare, the information shared must be based on solid science.
- Clear Professional Boundaries: Knowing when and how to use each tool appropriately is absolutely essential.
Using the right tool at the right time can really improve the quality of care and strengthen the relationship between patients and professionals.
My Digital Self-Assessment
Working on this has really made me think deeply about how I use digital tools and social media, both as a student now and in my future career. I realized I have a pretty strong foundation thanks to my past engineering experience and the digital skills I picked up there.
This assignment also showed me just how many social media platforms and digital tools are out there—way more than I’d imagined! All these tools offer incredible possibilities: better communication, sharing ideas, staying connected, learning, and even professional marketing. But, they also come with risks. Fraud, phishing, hacking, and weak security are all real threats we can’t ignore.
From my perspective, it’s crucial for every user to be fully aware of these risks and learn how to use social media responsibly and safely. In healthcare especially, the focus must be on respecting privacy, protecting patient data, and maintaining professional boundaries in communication. I feel much more confident now in using these tools smartly and thoughtfully. At the same time, I see I still need to learn more about information security and the specific laws related to professional technology use in Finnish healthcare. This report has definitely given me a clearer picture of my digital responsibilities in my future career!