MI Dental Hygienist Turning Nurse...the right decision?

U.S.A. Michigan

Published

Hello!

I am new to allnurses.com. I am a dental hygienist who is returning to school to become an RN in Michigan. I practiced hygiene for 12 years and am certified in local anesthesia. I was also a dental assistant for 6 years prior to that. I have two girls (ages 6 & 9) and was recently accepted into an ADN nursing program in Michigan. I start Pharmacology in May. I loved doing hygiene and loved treating patients. I am 37 and just now have decided to return to school for (hopefully) more opportunities in nursing and excitement (LOL). Everyday, I contemplate whether I am making the right decision to enter nursing because I am afraid I won't be able to find a job after graduation in MI's economy as a new grad nurse. For those of you who don't know, dental hygiene is very saturated in MI. I just hope I'm not in for a rude awakening. I would love to hear from any and all nurses and hygienists who have turned nurses in MI who may have any input! Thanks!

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u are going in the right direction! Nursing is amazing! I am from MI and am a nurse now!

Its difficult but doable!

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Thank you so much for the positive feedback Me2006! I was just accepted to Oakland Community College's RN Program and start in a couple of weeks (Pharm). Where did you go to school and how long have you been a nurse in MI? Thanks so much for replying. I was beginning to think I wasn't making the right decision after having 66 views and no response. :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, dementia, hospice.

Hi nerdymama!

Congrats on getting into the OCC nursing program! I just graduated from there in April 2013 and passed my NCLEX-RN last week. Brace yourself for the journey that is nursing school! The program is very time-consuming and has very high standards.

Anyway, just out of curiosity, what made you decide to leave dental hygiene? Nursing, too, is saturated (especially for new grads). Of course, though, when there's a will there's a way. However, at present, many of the hospitals have hiring freezes and/or reluctantly hire new grads (especially ADNs). My advice is to get a job as an aide/patient care tech somewhere before you graduate to make the transition to an RN easier.

I worked part-time as an aide in a rehabilitation/skilled nursing center throughout school (and until a few weeks ago) and will start working full-time next week as an RN at the same place. Extended care facilities aren't for everyone; however, they are open to hiring new grads and can be a good place to start.

Best wishes on your nursing-school journey!

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Congrats nerdymama!

I am an LPN going for my BSN and I work at a hospital here in MI. I would echo wendyyvonne's advice about careaide/tech somewhere, because that gives you a leg up for employee only postings at the hospital you would work at. Also, I would caution against working for a for-profit hospital. I don't know about the facilities in your area, but our hospital just got bought out by a for-profit and has implemented a new staffing plan. So far, for-profit is bad news for patients and is burning out nurses.

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Hello, fellow RDH! How are you finding the transition? It seems like I am exactly in the same shoes that you were in a year or so ago. I would love some words of wisdom.

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