RN thinking of going back to school for dental hygeine?

Nurses Career Support

Published

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Home Health.

I am thinking of going back for dental hygeine since I have become so disatisfied in nsg! Any takers? Input please feeling burnt out in nsg I have been an LPN for 7 and RN for 1 and counting. Mon-Fri with all holidays off along with one task sounds GREAT! :clown:

Specializes in Critical Care.

They always seem happy when I get my teeth cleaned, lol. But I'd imagine it gets boring from being so repetitive.

If you really want to, I say go for it! It's funny, during my pre-reqs I met a lady who was a RDH and was going for her RN because she was disssatisfied with the pay. If I were in your shoes, I would do some research around the area about RDH pay and the availability of jobs, but I'd keep my RN license just in case things didn't work out.

Specializes in FNP.

I think it is definitely a lifetyle job. I would probably be bored stiff but in my area I know they make a good deal more than RNs w/ excellent hours.

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Home Health.

Thanks but that was my thoughts all along keep the RN as fall back. I have always heard that new RDH makes 50+ first year! And that's with all holidays off and probably leave early on wednesdays or fridays. Now if I can get the husband aboard!lol!

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Home Health.

linearthlinker, I can settle for boring at this point it beats feeling like I'm going to fall apart on the job!

Specializes in FNP.

I hear you. Good luck!

might not be a bad idea. I was talking to a dental assistant one time waiting for my dentist to come in and she was telling me how she planned to go back to school for a hygienist position and she would be making 35/hour, which is quite a bit more than most RNs in my area, plus M-F work and no weekends/holidays. I know it's not for me though... even though us nurses deal with "gross" things all day, the thought of poking around in someones mouth all day gets to me:uhoh3:

Specializes in Med/surg, rural CCU.

I've heard they make very good money- but also that jobs are very hard to come by. I'd assume this is true. I've never in my life seen an ad for a dental hygienist.

I've seen quite a few ads in my area, more so than for LVNs, and sometimes RNs, but all of them specify that they want experience. I say go for it. It has to be better having another avenue for employment.

The dental assistant in my dentist's office is taking prerequisites for either the RN program or an RDH program. She wants to improve her earnings and employment picture.

The ads I have seen in my locat paper only want RDH for maybe two-three days a week and a couple I know only work 2-3 days a weeks so they aren't getting 40hrs/week. With the economy teeth come last, my dentist office has been dead lately so it has been fairly easy to get in and get work done.

+ Add a Comment