Hosts: Guest:
Marguerite Morgan Margaret Kierans Nadine Bishop RDN
1). Overview
1. Introduction to Irish Dental Jobs
- Marguerite explains her unique approach to recruitment, with a focus on
relationships and connections in the dental sector.
- The company has launched a salary guide to address discrepancies and provide
insights into dental industry trends.
2. Discussion on Dental Nurse Salaries
- Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Salaries:
o There is often no official salary distinction between qualified and non-
qualified dental nurses.
o Employers focus more on demonstrated skills and experience rather than
formal qualifications.
- Challenges in addressing pay discrepancies:
o Vision for creating a centralised domain for salary data.
o Notable disparity in salary expectations despite years of experience.
3. Special Guest: Nadine Bishop
- Nadine shares her career journey and relationship with Marguerite.
- She recounts:
o Early days as a dental nurse, including mentorship under Dr. Caitriona Begley
and Dr. John O’Grady.
o Transition to working with Irish Dental Jobs as an in-house emergency nurse.
o Rediscovering her passion for dental nursing through temp roles.
- Importance of trust and relationship-building in professional and personal growth.
4. Insights into Temporary Dental Nursing
- Benefits of temp nursing:
o Flexibility in work-life balance.
o Exposure to various specialties, including orthodontics, periodontics, and
prosthodontics.
o Opportunities to develop new skills and experiences (e.g., assisting with
obturators).
5. Personal Reflection and Resilience
- Nadine shares her battle with breast cancer and highlights the support from
Marguerite during difficult times.
- Marguerite emphasises the importance of empathy and personal investment in her
professional relationships.
6. Marguerite’s Recruitment Philosophy
- A personalised, relationship-focused approach to recruitment.
- Balancing candidates' personal and professional needs.
- Marguerite’s commitment to integrity and long-term placements.
2). Article
The Dental Chair Podcast: Behind the Chair: The Personal Side of Dental Recruitment - Trust, Loyalty, and People
In this episode of The Dental Chair, host Marguerite Morgan brings listeners a blend of
professional insights and personal stories that showcase the unique dynamics of dental
recruitment. Joined by her co-host, Margaret Kierans, and special guest, Nadine Bishop,
Marguerite explores salary trends in the dental industry, the benefits of temporary nursing,
and the deep personal connections that drive success in her business.
With over 25 years of recruitment experience and a passion for making meaningful matches
between candidates and dental practices, Marguerite’s unique approach sets the tone for a
candid and inspiring conversation.
The Dental Industry Salary Landscape: A Call for Transparency
Margaret, Irish Dental Jobs’ Marketing Manager behind the research on IDJ’s recently
launched salary guide, kicks off the discussion by highlighting a significant industry
challenge: the lack of salary distinction between qualified and non-qualified dental nurses.
Margaret reveals that many dental nurses often ask why their qualifications don’t equate to
higher salaries. Marguerite that employers can tend to prioritise skills and experience over
formal qualifications. In fact, non-qualified nurses often outperform their qualified
counterparts.
Marguerite’s vision for a centralised salary guide aims to address these discrepancies by
bringing transparency and standardisation to the profession. She believes this could be a
starting point for meaningful change in an industry where many support staff have not seen
salary increases in over a decade.
“It’s a challenge, but creating one central domain for salary insights could be a game-
changer for the private dental sector.” – Marguerite Morgan
A Journey of Trust and Resilience
Nadine Bishop, a former dental nurse and longtime employee of Marguerite’s, shares her
personal and professional journey. Her story illustrates the transformative power of trust,
flexibility, and resilience.
Nadine’s Career Journey
Nadine reflects on her early days as a dental nurse under the mentorship of Dr. Caitriona
Begley and later with Dr. John O’Grady. These relationships shaped her skills and passion for
dentistry, emphasising the importance of continuous education and adaptability in the field.
After leaving permanent nursing, Nadine transitioned to temping through Irish Dental Jobs.
Initially hesitant, she discovered the benefits of temporary roles:
- Flexibility: Temping allowed her to balance work with her personal life.
- Skill Expansion: Exposure to diverse specialties such as orthodontics, periodontics,
and prosthodontics broadened her expertise.
- Unique Experiences: Nadine recalls assisting with an obturator—a life-changing
procedure for a patient who had lost their palate—an opportunity she might never
have had in a standard practice.
“Temping opened doors I didn’t even know existed. The variety and flexibility were
transformative.” – Nadine Bishop
Nadine also shares her battle with breast cancer, diagnosed three years ago when she had a
four-month-old and a three-year-old at home. Marguerite’s unwavering support during this
challenging time reflects the deep personal bonds forged through their professional
relationship.
“Marguerite was there for me through the hardest moments of my life. That trust and
loyalty mean everything.” – Nadine Bishop
Conclusion: A Unique Approach to Recruitment
Marguerite’s approach to recruitment is grounded in her belief that “people matter.” She
treats every candidate, client, and colleague with empathy and respect, investing significant
time and energy into building long-term relationships.
Her ability to match personalities with workplaces is not just a skill but an art, rooted in her
deep understanding of the industry and the individuals she works with.
This episode also sheds light on the importance of self-awareness and work-life balance,
topics that resonate with anyone balancing professional demands with personal
responsibilities. While Marguerite excels at helping others achieve this balance, she admits
it’s something she continues to strive for herself.
“I work hard to find balance for others because I know how important it is—but it’s
something I’m still working on for myself.” – Marguerite Morgan