Finding Confidence My Journey through an MSc in Advanced Practice in Healthcare

When I started my MSc in Advanced Practice in Healthcare at Cardiff Metropolitan University, I honestly did not know what to expect. I was excited to be taking the next step in my career, but the thought of studying at master's level was daunting. Would I manage the academic work? How different would it be from my previous training? Would I be able to put what I learned into practice?

Having completed my first year and now started my second, I can see how much I have gained already. It has been challenging, but the whole experience has been rewarding. Most noticeably, it has built my confidence within the hospital setting and helped me recognise the contribution I can make as a Dental Technician.

The course runs over three years through distance learning, allowing me to continue working while studying. Being able to connect my learning with my own workplace has been one of its biggest benefits. The subjects I explore have a purpose beyond an assignment: they relate to the appliances I make, the conversations I have with clinicians and the way our service develops.

Where it all began

I started my apprenticeship at Robert Taggart Dental Laboratory in Carlisle when I was 17 and went on to qualify through Leeds School of Dentistry. That was the beginning of my career in Dental Technology, and it gave me the foundations, knowledge and experience that I still draw on today. I am very grateful for that start.

There is a great deal to learn when you first enter the profession. Developing practical skills, understanding materials and learning the care and accuracy needed to produce an appliance all take time. My apprenticeship and qualification helped me build those skills and begin finding my feet as a Dental Technician.

I now work in an NHS Head and Neck Laboratory at The Cumberland Infirmary, where my work includes making Orthodontic appliances and working alongside colleagues and clinicians to support patient care. I enjoy seeing how our technical work contributes to treatment and having the opportunity to discuss cases with the people involved.

As my career progressed, I wanted to keep developing. I wanted a deeper understanding of my work and to explore what I could contribute beyond the practical skills I had already gained. That was what attracted me to the MSc.

Getting used to a different way of learning

One thing that quickly became clear was how different the MSc would be from my qualification course at Leeds. It is academically focused, and that meant getting used to a different way of working.

I had to develop my skills in reading research, questioning evidence and putting together an academic argument. Having experience in the laboratory was valuable, but explaining the reasoning behind practice and supporting it with evidence brought a new challenge.

At first, that felt unfamiliar. It took time to understand what was expected and to become more comfortable with academic writing. There was a lot to take in, but it was exciting to discover another side of the profession.

The course has given me a much greater insight into academia and, more importantly, how I can use those skills. I can see the value of being able to look closely at information, judge its strengths and limitations, and decide how it relates to my work.

Completing my first year helped me realise that I could manage something that had initially felt quite intimidating. That sense of achievement has stayed with me as I have moved into the second year.

Finding a balance

Having support at work makes a real difference. My workplace is flexible and allows me one study day each week, in which I attend my lectures via Teams and work on MSc assignments between those lectures. Having that dedicated time helps me balance the academic demands of the course with my role in the laboratory, and I am grateful for that support.

There is still independent work to fit in, but I am finding a routine that works for me. Thankfully, my dog does not seem to mind me studying—as long as she gets her walk! It is a good reason to step away from the screen and get outside for a while.

Making the connection with everyday practice

My first-year project explored whether the daily wear time of a Twin Block appliance influences treatment outcomes in adolescent patients with Class II malocclusion.

As someone involved in making these appliances, I found it valuable to look more closely at what happens beyond the laboratory. Fabricating an appliance is one part of a wider treatment process. Understanding more about its use helped me appreciate that process in greater depth.

Reading the research encouraged me to consider the difference between prescribed wear time and how long an appliance is actually worn. It also made me think about how treatment outcomes are measured and how confidently we can apply research findings to practice.

One of the biggest lessons was that research does not always give a straightforward answer. Studies can approach the same question differently, and their limitations matter. Learning to recognise that has helped me become more thoughtful about the conclusions I draw.

Alongside the academic work, I fabricated and evaluated three Twin Block appliances. This gave me an opportunity to reflect on my practical development and identify where I was improving and where I still needed experience.

Having both elements together made the learning feel relevant. I could explore the evidence while continuing to develop the technical skills needed in my everyday role.

Feeling more confident as a professional

The change I have noticed most is my confidence at work.

I already had knowledge and experience as a qualified Dental Technician, but the MSc has helped me recognise their value more clearly. It has also given me new ways to build on them.

Within a hospital setting, we work alongside people with different skills and areas of expertise. Dental Technicians have an important perspective to contribute, particularly when discussing appliance design, materials, fabrication and technical difficulties.

I feel more confident contributing to those discussions and explaining my thinking. I am also more comfortable asking questions and exploring the reasons behind a particular approach.

On a personal level, the course has made me feel more established as a professional. It has helped me see how my practical experience and academic learning fit together, and how both can support the service I work in.

That has been a really rewarding part of the experience. The learning matters, but so does having the confidence to use it.

Seeing where I can contribute to change

The MSc has also encouraged me to think more widely about the laboratory and how I could contribute to improving the way we work.

For my leadership and management work, I focused on preparing a standardised workflow for accepting intra-oral scans into the Head and Neck Laboratory. At the time of the project, the scanners had not yet been installed, so the work centred on preparing for their introduction.

This meant looking at how scans would be received and checked, who would be responsible for each stage, what training might be needed and how problems would be managed.

It helped me appreciate how much thought needs to go into introducing a new process. Having the technology available is only part of it. The people using it also need clear guidance, appropriate support and an understanding of their responsibilities.

I found it rewarding to work on something that related directly to our laboratory. It showed me how the skills I was developing through the course could help me contribute to service improvement.

It also strengthened my interest in leadership. I enjoyed considering how a change could work in practice and what would help colleagues feel prepared for it.

The challenge I was most nervous about

My biggest challenge so far was presenting live over Microsoft Teams.

I get very nervous presenting to people, so this was something I found particularly daunting. Knowing my subject and writing about it was one thing; speaking about it live while being assessed felt very different.

I don't think I took a breath the whole way through!

However, I did it—and I achieved an excellent mark for my presentation skills.

That meant a great deal to me because I knew how nervous I had been. It was a moment where I could look back and feel proud of myself for taking on something I found difficult.

It has not suddenly made me someone who feels completely relaxed about presenting, but it has given me a positive experience to remember next time. I now know that being nervous does not mean I cannot do it well.

Those communication skills will be useful throughout my career, whether I am sharing learning, explaining a technical issue or discussing an idea with colleagues. For me, that made the achievement valuable beyond the mark itself.

Looking ahead

Now that I am in my second year, I am focusing on developing my technical competence in the design and fabrication of Quad Helix appliances. Again, this gives me an opportunity to bring academic learning and practical development together, while evaluating my progress across three appliances.

Looking further ahead, I would like to move into a leadership role. I want to continue developing as a Dental Technician while taking on greater responsibility, supporting colleagues and contributing to improvements within the service.

I see the MSc as an important part of preparing for that future. Alongside my workplace experience, I hope it will help me develop the knowledge, judgement and confidence to take those next steps.

For anyone considering postgraduate study, I would say that it is understandable to feel daunted at the beginning. I certainly did. There is a lot to learn, and some parts will push you outside your comfort zone, but seeing your own progress makes that worthwhile.

I am still on that journey, but I already feel more confident in my work and clearer about what I want from my future career.

I also want to acknowledge my colleagues in the Head and Neck Laboratory and across Orthodontics, Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial services. Their support and encouragement have meant a great deal to me throughout the course. Being surrounded by supportive colleagues has helped me grow in confidence and make the connection between my studies and everyday practice. I am proud of what I have achieved so far, and grateful to be continuing that journey with their support.