RN thinking of going back to school for dental hygeine?

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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Specializes in FNP.

I hear you. Good luck!

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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