RN vs Dental Hygiene

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Sep 29, 2009

Don't do any job for the money, do it because you love it. I know everyone harps on this and everyone ignores it because we all like money. The reality is this is your life, whatever you want to do with it, the world is yours. What makes you passionate? Is it saving lives? Is it making smiles more beautiful? Is it something completely unrelated to the two.

As far as hours, Dental Hygeine's going to be more of a mon-fri sort of gig, most dental offices are open normal business hours. The money is comparable to nursing base wages, but there wont be shift differentials and such available. As far as advanced degrees I dont believe there is any? Either your a Hygienist or a Dentist.

Nursing weekends/holidays any time that exists you could possibly be working.

I dont really have any information on dental hygiene programs....

But really, follow your heart.

silentRN · Sep 29, 2009

Do you like to keep people alive or make smiles pretty? I could never go back a job that is 5 days a week. It's your call.

bond2b · Sep 29, 2009

I just switch from Dental Hygiene to Nursing. It's hard for a man to find the job as a dental hygienist. Most of my female friends work 2 places because they trend to hire a hygienist on certain day( busy day). Money is good and schedules are flexible. Most of my friends are getting about $35-$40 an hour in TX.

forthebirds · Sep 29, 2009

I just want to compare and contrast RN vs Dental Hygiene.
1. Since I live in Cali, which major do you think is more impacted? (in Golden West it going to take me like 6 years to get ASN degree not sure about Dental Hygiene.)
2. Between RN (associate degree) and Dental hygiene (associate degree), which has more salary, more flexibility, more satisfying?
3. What about RN (BSN) and Dental hygiene (Bachelor Degree), which has more salary, more flexibility, and more satisfying?
4. Which is harder in study and grade wise, RN or Dental Hygiene?
5. Does Dental hygiene require super high GPA like Nursing just to get in the program? Do I have to get in a waitlist as long as Nursing?
6. What can I be/get/do after Dental Hygiene (Bachelor + Master degree)?
At fist I wanted to be go into Nursing cuz i believe I have some passion for the career and of course the money. Found out yesterday that I will need atleast 6 years(because of the waitlist) to get my ASN. Thats y I'm thinking of Dental Hygiene, but for some reason I feel like I'm going to miss Nursing lol...

I think it might help to look at the type of work you would do and when, where you would do it...

Dental Hygiene, from BLS.gov: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm

From what I have read, dental hygiene is very flexible. Daytime hours, and decent pay. Some drawbacks to me would be the repetitive motion, always being hunched over and repetitive tasks (your scope of practice depends on the state you are in). Holidays off, possibly off on the weekends if you so choose. Lots of sitting, due to the nature of the work. You can get an advanced degree in DH, seems that the degree is for those who want to do research or go into teaching DH. See this link from the ADHA: http://www.adha.org/downloads/edu/dh_ed_fact_sheet.pdf

Registered Nurse, from BLS.gov: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm

From my experience nursing can be flexible, but if you are going to a hospital you better prepare to start on midnights and be there, possibly for a while. There is also flexibility with the type of nursing you do, for example you can work in Med/Surg, ICU or

L & D. There are repetitive tasks in nursing too, and there is heavy lifting. Lots and lots of walking, due to the nature of the work. You'll work holidays and weekends, but that doesn't mean you'll work every holiday or every weekend. An advanced degree in nursing would allow you to do research, be a clinician or you could go into education.

Whatever you do, as others have said, DO NOT go into nursing for the money--or any job for that matter. Compensation is important and should be considered, but definitely look at all aspects of the career and then job shadow. Both Nurses and Hygienist are used to people asking them about their job and most will not have a problem allowing you to see the work they do for a day. Career satisfaction is very subjective and, I believe, very dependent on your personality. Maybe you should do a Myers-Briggs test to see what type of career might fit your personality? You can do an informal online test or you can contact a career counselor at your local college, they are very familiar with administering Myers-Briggs tests and their evaluation.

Good luck with your decision.