cant make up my mind

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hi, i am currently making a career change and are almost done taking all my prerequisites for either the Rn school or dental hygiene school. is there anyone else out there that has or is having the same problem as i am? im too old to keep changing my career, so i want to make sure this is the one. i have heard from people to stay away from nursing because of all the stress and the bad attitudes from doctors. and i also heard that you can not work anything less than a 12 hour shift. can rn's work 4 or 8 hour shifts? but then again, i've heard that dental hygienists are extremely limited in what they can do. but i've heard they have better pay and more flexible schedules. help!!:banghead:

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Specializes in ER.

I think dental hygienists probably get better paid for the amount of responsibility and they definitely have better schedules, but ohhh, the boredom! That would be on my least desireable careers list.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

As for shift work, RN's dont normally work a 4 hour shift- its mostly 8 or 12 hours.

There are many different nursing job's out there that require different hours, or allow you to choose your schedule. Its just up to you to find out what your options are. you do have many choices though. Personally, I think nursing has the most flexible schedule. You can work days/eves/nights, just weekends, 3 days a week 12 hours per day, etc.

Nursing is a wonderful profession, despite the negative image of stress and mean doctors. Nursing is a chance to truely help others, and it is an extremly rewarding profession.

I wish you the best in whichever career you choose.

Meghan :nurse:

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We have a dental hygenist in our nursing program, who is married to a dentist. I remember on our first day of class introductions, she said she was looking forward to the variety that nursing had to offer. So I say that she is married to a dentist (to rule out doing it for financial reasons...). She is probably in her late 30s I would say, two kids, and is a really bright lady.

~J

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thanks for all your input......it helps me to hear other people's stories....thank you

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I had the same problem. I knew that I wanted to do something in the medical field (i.e. dental hygiene, nursing, or radiology tech.) I chose nursing because you can do so many diffrent things. You can work at a hospital, nursing home, doctor's office, school, clinic ect... and you won't be doing one specific thing. If you get tired of one area, then you can change to another. I didn't want to get tied down just doing one thing. I like to change up. Plus, you can work nights and weekends if you want, which is unlikely as a dental hygenist. Good luck with your decision! :)

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I agree withthe others, dental hygiene is very limited. In nursing you can get a similar job to a hygienist- office work, no weekedns or holidays etc.

Or you can work in a variety of other options. I like nursing also because I can pick up extra shifts to earn extra money when needed!!! and it is often needed...

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Another thing to consider is the effect of standing in one place, bending over a dentist's chair for the majority of the day. How will this effect your health, your back, your legs, and your mental outlook? Of course, nurses are also at high risk for back injuries. At least with nursing, there is much variety and job-field flexibility. I have an acquaintance who has been a dental hygienist for decades, and she has developed significant back problems. She also became very unhappy with her employment with one dentist practice in town, and had to wait and pray for an opening in another practice in town. (In her case, the opportunities were limited, since she was in a relatively small town.) The second dentist was much friendlier and had better benefits for his hygienists, and she is very satisfied with her working conditions now:)

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but why do hygienists get paid more than nurses?? you would think it would be the other way around...

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Specializes in ER.

You would think...but I don't know why.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

For me just the thought of looking in mouths and dealing with spit hour upon hour is enough to make me NOT consider the dental field. It's my one weakness:imbar

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

We were exploring dental hygiene as a possible career for my brother's daughter. There is a big problem with burnout among dental hygienists resulting in them only staying in the profession for a few years. I was discussing this with my own dental hygienist who has been in the profession for over 10 years. She said this burnout issue is true. However, more hygienists are getting involved in patient teaching, particularly with kids and this seems to help some of them allay the boredom. Check out their professional websites. One of my classmates in nursing school 30 years ago was a dental hygienst who was changing professions. There is a dental hygienist in my health information program who can't say enough bad things about the dentists she has worked with--guess she's run into some nasty ones. That, or else, she's just a negative person to begin with.

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