NOTE: The entire Professional Skills Certificate Program, containing all 15 modules in the series, is also for sale as a single discounted item. Look for the “Professional Skills for Early Career Certificate Program” in the CE Smart Catalog to purchase

This bundle contains the following modules presented by Janette Garcia, EdD, MHA, BSDH, RDH, FADHA:

Course Description: Have you ever faced an unexpected challenge in the clinic and wondered how to respond with confidence? This course empowers dental professionals and team members to tackle clinical and professional problems with clarity, speed, and accountability. Through real-world scenarios and a proven 4-step problem-solving model, you'll learn to distinguish between different types of challenges, make effective decisions under pressure, and foster a culture where challenges are addressed proactively and collaboratively. Get ready to build essential skills that will serve you throughout your dental hygiene career!

Course Description: In this course, you will master the ability to make sound, defensible decisions in real-world patient care. You will learn the crucial difference between analyzing objective data (critical thinking) and taking action (clinical judgment). Using the "What? So what? Now what?" framework, you will practice systematically evaluating complex scenarios to determine safe, patient-specific next steps and reinforce your professional accountability.

Course Description: This module equips dental hygienists with the skills to make safe, structured, and accountable clinical choices in high-pressure environments. Participants will learn to distinguish between situations requiring quick, immediate actions and those needing deliberate, analytical thought. By navigating ethical dilemmas and applying the structured DECIDE model to real-world clinical scenarios, dental professionals will practice evaluating options, prioritizing patient safety, and managing time-sensitive challenges. Ultimately, the course emphasizes maintaining calm control, taking full ownership of clinical decisions, and evaluating outcomes to continuously improve patient care and team dynamics.

CE Credit Hours: 2.0

Course Launch Date: August 1, 2026

The American Dental Hygienists' Association is designated as an approved provider by the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, Inc. #AADHADH (Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2026). Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial Board of Dentistry. Licensee should maintain this document in the event of an audit.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.