Elective course supports dental hygiene learners' preparation for boards

A new dental hygiene course is helping learners feel prepared and confident before their National Dental Hygiene Board Examinations.

Heather McCauley, LDH, BSDH ’02, MEd, has always loved Minnesota. “I moved around after graduating from the U, but always missed Minnesota and the community,” she said. That love for her alma mater inspired her to become a clinical assistant professor in August 2023. She works with dental hygiene and dental therapy students in the clinic and in various courses.

One of McCauley’s favorite educational topics happened to pair up nicely with a request from students: learning about and preparing for the NDHBE. An examination required for licensing as a dental hygienist in the United States, the 9 hour test can be a source of anxiety and stress for students.

McCauley connected with Cyndee Stull, DHSc, MDH, RDH, director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, about students’ desire to feel more prepared for the exam, and her interest in preparing them.

“We want our students to feel prepared going into this exam,” McCauley explained. “There is a lot of information out there, and organizations that offer board review, so we wanted to offer content that is high caliber and aligns with the exam.”

That’s how McCauley created the board review course, an elective course focused on providing support and resources for students in their last year of the program. “It’s not always about the content of the exam, but about how to approach certain question formats, what you will be allowed to bring to the testing center and other questions,” McCauley explained. “Students trust their faculty, so I feel that it’s important to have someone they can come to with questions as they arise.”

McCauley created weekly Kahoot modules that allowed students to compete with one another, as well as reviews of case studies that mirrored the testing environment. She incorporated anxiety management and test taking strategies into the curriculum to ensure students were ready for whatever they may encounter at the exam.

McCauley was “very impressed with the engagement I had from students” in the first experience teaching the course. “It was a great way to collaborate with our students and faculty to ensure that the curriculum is aligned with board content,” she said. Moving forward, she hopes to continue perfecting the course—introducing additional team components and a simulated practice exam.

Students appreciated the course and felt its impact, too.

Brooke Schmeling, BSDH ’24, took the course to gain extra support as she prepared for boards—and she found exactly what she needed.

“I have enjoyed everything from open conversations about what material is not clicking to Kahoot practices that test our knowledge, to reviews of specific case studies,” she said. “I’ve found the course really beneficial.”

Schmeling felt like her board examinations went well and that she was prepared for whatever she would find in the exam. “The board review course taught me to feel confident in myself,” she explained. “It tested my knowledge which allowed me to be successful when taking the exam. My board exams went very smoothly thanks to the course.”

Mackenzie Judy, BSDH ’24, wanted to do everything she could to prepare for boards—and this course was the perfect opportunity for her.

“My experience in this course has been great,” she said. “Each session, I have learned better ways to study and to approach case study questions. The course has allowed me to work beside my peers and work through different topics that will show up on our board exam.”

In addition to gaining skills, Judy grew in her confidence in approaching and taking the examination.

“This course made me feel more prepared and confident to take the board exam. It has helped me to improve my study habits and reduce my test taking anxiety by learning to believe in myself,” she said. “I was able to apply the strategies we learned when taking the board exam, and feel it helped me be more efficient and prepared when answering the questions. Overall, the board course helped me be more successful and heightened my confidence while taking the exam.”