Should have gone to Dental School?

[procrastinator911, BSN, RN]

Hi all,

So as I'm sitting in my dentist chair this morning I suddenly got an epiphany. I should have thought of being a dentist. The money is still good. They work 9-5, mon-fri. , holidays off, they have different specialties to venture into, and they're not responsible for anyone's life, but what i love is that starting the first year of school you are in clinical assisting upperclassmen. Which is awesome because every year u are in clinical perfecting your knowledge and skills.

Whereas with nursing u don't get any clinical experience until ur junior year (for BSN program) and I don't know about other schools but my clincal rotations are maybe 6 wks long, to me that's nothing. I've heard that those who were in an RN program are better prepared clinically compared to BSN programs. And yeah I've heard it before, the BSN programs prepare students to critically think so they can properly assess and implement the best treatment option...

I guess b/c graduation is coming up in May I'm just terrified to have someone's life in my hands. I guess it's just pre-nurse jitters, idk.

Overall, I don't want to be a Dentist. I actually hate teeth and the inside of peoples mouths, i think its gross lol. But I know the great thing about nursing is the opportunity for advancement which allows me the branch away from being a bedside nurse in the near future.

Just me sharing my thoughts.

[KayyyT]

Do you even like people?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

My BS program had us in clinical three days a week for three of the four years, not two. Those dental students aren't in the clinic every day for four years, trust me.

[procrastinator911, BSN, RN]

Do you even like people?

Nothing about my post indicates me not liking people. Just b/c I don't want to be a bedside forever doesn't mean I don't like people. There are different aspects of caring for people smh.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Please don't use textspk (TOS, see above). What is smh?

[procrastinator911, BSN, RN]

My BS program had us in clinical three days a week for three of the four years, not two. Those dental students aren't in the clinic every day for four years, trust me.

That sounds like a good program. Our clinicals are either 2 8hr or 1 12hr days for 6 weeks. I just believe there should be more emphasis on the clinical aspect as well. Especially considering nurses are the only ones that have 24 hr access and are the first to notice changes in the patients. I realize every program is different though. Maybe they'll make nursing a 5 yr program and allow that last year to be like a nurse residency program, Idk, just my thoughts

[procrastinator911, BSN, RN]

Please don't use textspk (TOS, see above). What is smh?

sorry, it means shaking my head

[shamrokks, ADN, ASN, RN]

This might be where being in healthcare prior to your nursing program would come in handy. CNA's, LPN's and ADN programs put you in clinicals right away usually. If a BSN doesn't even have you caring for a patient until your 3rd year make the most of those last two years and get your hands into everything (within your scope as a student nurse) that you can.

[nguyency77, CNA]

With dental school, you still have to go through 4 years of undergraduate studies. By that logic, you have to wait 4 years to get your hands on a patient as a dental student as opposed to two years in a BSN program. You don't just say, "Oh, I wanna be a dentist!" and the university doesn't just say, "Ok, you can start cleaning patients' teeth!" You still have to go through the pain and misery of biology classes before you can touch anyone, haha...

[Jujubees]

I assisted at chair side for a brand new out of school dentist. She was very nervous with the patients and had a hard time explaining things in a way they understood.

[DawnJ]

There were several deaths in the Chicago area related to dental anesthesia. So, there is still some risk of death

[biopsychmajor, BSN, RN]

I'm starting a 2nd degree program myself. I know at the hospital where I work, you orient for at least 6 months before you are truly on your own as a nurse. My thought is that around that time period is normal for new nurses.