RN versus Dental Hygienist

RNfaster · Oct 6, 2007

I think dental hygiene can be a good career. I considered it once I realized how long the wait was for a nursing school slot in my area.

Here is why I am currently planning on nursing and not dental hygiene:

1) The dental hygiene program near me costs about three times the nursing program I plan to attend. (And by the time I would get admitted to the dental hygiene program, I expect to be starting the nursing program.)

2) I believe that I have more growth opportunities in nursing.

3) I think that I would get bored with mostly cleaning teeth.

4) While there is a growing demand for dental hygienists across the country and in my state, the demand for nurses is way above that. I figure that it will give me greater power to move in the workplace as I seek good benefits, salary, etc.

On the other hand, I think dental hygienists have great schedules - way better than nurses. They can choose to work part- or full-time. They don't have to work nights or weekends. They also get to sit and work on patients (on the other hand, the detailed procedures in the mouth are likely to tax the hands and wrists). They get to work in a nice, clean facility. Dental hygienists don't have to deal with poop, pee, or vomit. They don't have to lift their patients. They get to work one-on-one with patients. They have about 6 to 8 patients a day (my guess).

Bottom line... I don't think you can go wrong with either profession. Both will enable you to earn decent money. I think you should look at the growth needs in your current geographical area. Will you have many choices of employer? Also, what are your interests? Which would you rather do?

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Oct 6, 2007

There was an ad for a dental hygenist in my local paper and it read "How much will it cost me to hire a full time hygenist? Call and name your price"

Dental hygenists are in huge, huge, huge demand where I am. Dentists are so desperate to hire a good one, they will often START around $40/hour.

However, there are only 2 programs (I believe) in BC that train them and to get into that program is so tough and competitive.

KulRN · Oct 6, 2007

Yeah and we nurse just have to look at the other end, and deal with the nasty smells coming out of there!

ha-ha-ha-ha...that's a good one.... :lol2:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 6, 2007

The title of this thread struck me as odd: can't figure why someone would compare the two fields, as they are nothing alike.

If you want to be a dental hygienist, then you should do it. If you want to be a nurse, then by all means take that road. I guess I'm not seeing this as a big "which do I choose" question!

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2007

The title of this thread struck me as odd: can't figure why someone would compare the two fields, as they are nothing alike.
If you want to be a dental hygienist, then you should do it. If you want to be a nurse, then by all means take that road. I guess I'm not seeing this as a big "which do I choose" question!

I thought that the OP was personally debating which profession to enter? In other words, the premise of the thread is "Compare dental hygiene with RN, pros and cons, whys and why nots" I don't see anything wrong with doing that.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2007

I thought that the OP was personally debating which profession to enter? In other words, the premise of the thread is "Compare dental hygiene with RN, pros and cons, whys and why nots" I don't see anything wrong with doing that.

I thought the premise of the thread is "why do DH make such good money compared to nurses, (with the understanding that nursing is a high stress job that requires difficult education). There was a similar question a while back about rad techs.

Probably DH make such good money is supply and demand? Also note, they probably get paid by the case, if a case cancels or it's not a busy day they might not make as much.

I respect DH's. To say all they do is clean teeth and how boring, is to say all nurses do is clean poop, pass meds and chart. They do assessments, teach, etc.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 6, 2007

I, and most hygienists I know, usually love to tackle a really dirty mouth. The more calculus, the better! Nothing like discovering teeth under 20 years of buildup!

:barf01::barf01::barf01::barf01:

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

agldragonRN · Oct 6, 2007

i thought the premise of the thread is "why do dh make such good money compared to nurses, (with the understanding that nursing is a high stress job that requires difficult education). there was a similar question a while back about rad techs.
probably dh make such good money is supply and demand? also note, they probably get paid by the case, if a case cancels or it's not a busy day they might not make as much.
i respect dh's. to say all they do is clean teeth and how boring, is to say all nurses do is clean poop, pass meds and chart. they do assessments, teach, etc.

thank you tweety...i respect rdh as well because like what i said my cousin is one. everyone has a place in the healthcare industry...is rnsrwe calling me odd? tweety please direct me to the appropriate tos section so i can know how to "properly" title my thread...just kidding....maybe she just misunderstood the title and did not read all the posts..

angel

smk1, LPN · Oct 6, 2007

RDH pays great in many areas of the country, but most do have to provide their own benefits and there isn't any upward mobility. You are going to do the sames things forever. So those can be cons for many people. Also the service is something that a dentist can provide on his own, so in leaner times an RDH may find themselves struggling to maintain jobs. Still, a great field.

RNfaster · Oct 7, 2007

I thought the premise of the thread is "why do DH make such good money compared to nurses, (with the understanding that nursing is a high stress job that requires difficult education). There was a similar question a while back about rad techs.
Probably DH make such good money is supply and demand? Also note, they probably get paid by the case, if a case cancels or it's not a busy day they might not make as much.
I respect DH's. To say all they do is clean teeth and how boring, is to say all nurses do is clean poop, pass meds and chart. They do assessments, teach, etc.

Tweety, good points. Per the poster that questioned the rationale behind the OP's question, I disagree. I think the OP has a good question backed by sound reason. Both careers are high growth and decent income per the U.S. Department of Labor. Both are in healthcare. Both have some significant crossover in terms of prerequisites (the DH program near me required some additional prereqs, e.g., organic chemistry, which sounds very interesting to me).

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm - DH

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm - RN

Jo Dirt · Oct 7, 2007

also as a dental hygenist you have to look in people's nasty mouths and smell their nasty breath. I would rather do just about ANYTHING other than that! Those hygenists deserve every penny they make :)

I'd think it would offer satisfaction to look at those nasty mouths and be able to clean them up and make them look better.

agldragonRN · Oct 8, 2007

tweety, good points. per the poster that questioned the rationale behind the op's question, i disagree. i think the op has a good question backed by sound reason. both careers are high growth and decent income per the u.s. department of labor. both are in healthcare. both have some significant crossover in terms of prerequisites (the dh program near me required some additional prereqs, e.g., organic chemistry, which sounds very interesting to me).
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm - dh
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm - rn

thank you. i don't know why my thread's title "struck her as odd."

angel