JOANNE Trotter has a lot to smile about after beating off competition from trainees in three countries to gain a distinction in her National Certificate in Dental Nursing.
To be awarded a distinction, Joanne had to gain 100 per cent in all five parts of her certificate examination - the written papers, an oral exam and three practical tests.
Only three distinctions were awarded from the 2,079 entrants in the UK, Germany and Singapore.
Joanne, 22, from Ferryhill, County Durham, is now hoping that a coveted gold badge presented to the top candidate from the three distinctions will come her way in January.
Her employers, dental practitioners Martin Burgess and Az Hyder, who have surgeries in Ferryhill, Chilton and Trimdon, are delighted with their nurse's success.
Joanne started the dental course at Durham's New College after taking A-levels then working in a chemists, and as a dentist's receptionist. Joanne said: "Gaining the distinction was a wonderful surprise because parts of the examination were quite daunting, and it would be the icing on the cake if I won the gold badge as well."
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