Should I become a dental hygenist or a nurse? I just cannot decide?

I always thought I would do nursing because i'm smart, inquisitive and love school (especially biology and sciences) however, i see now more than ever that nurses have it really tough. Yes they always have a job but they have to deal with gross stuff and work long and weird hours! I was picturing a 9-5 doctors office type job. Now I'm thinking about doing the dental hygenist because that seems like fun and you get paid about the same. Just wondering, do they get benefits (the dental hygenists?) Also is there that jobb versitile? could i go to school and get my bachelors degree in it? I love school and want to get at least my bachelors in whatever i do and i thought dental hygenists only got their associates? please help!

Should I become a dental hygenist or a nurse? I just cannot decide?
do whichever one you like more
Reply:this is a profession to go into you will enjoy it.
Reply:Sounds like you are leaning towards the dental hygenist job. I would take that. Nurses do have it tough. They need to be selfless and not squeemish and they often work long long hours. I know a nurse that worked a 26 hour shift once, NO BREAKS besides to go to the bathroom. She must constantly sip coffee or something.
Reply:You should defiantly be a dental hygienist; i go to community college and every single girl in that school is going for nursing! good god do something that actually uses your brain, and if you talk to nurses they all plan on doing something else with their life and never do! its just pathetic
Reply:It really depends on where you are in your life and how much time you are willing to commit to the profession. One of my sisters is currently finishing dental hygenist school while the other graduated with an B.S. in Nursing. Dental hygenie from what I understand only recieves an assc. b/c its a 2 yr. program usually from community college ( you would have to check the indiv. schools in your area). After that it is like nursing where you have to be accepted into the actual program and then clinicals and what not. As far as benifts it would seem to me, and from what my sister has told me that it depends on the indiv. doctor you would be working with rather then nursing where you could be working for a hospital with comp. benifts packages. All in all, do some research and go talk to the colleges in your area to see if they can give you more information into the programs you have an interest in.
Reply:Here's a thought:





Go to nursing school and get your RN degree. Then go to anesthesia school and become an anesthetist. It's a far better field than nursing or dental hygiene.
Reply:This truely is a personal decision. While being face with the same type of choice, I looked at all of my options and what each career choice would mean for me. Since I had been out of school for more than 7 years, all of my science classes had to be completed again; it was during this time that I started to check into my options.





I am 35+ with 4 kids (three younger) and a full time going nowhere job. I already have my degree in business and accounting- but I cannot stand sitting behind a desk all day long. After 15 years doing this type of work I am going crazy.





When I started my adventure, I looked not only into nursing and dental hygiene, but programs for rad techs and respiratory therapy too. I asked current students in these programs, students in my science classes- instructors; anyone I could get to listen and answer questions for me. I found recent graduates to be a great area of knowledge. By checking the local community colleges web sites to completely understand my prerequesit requirements, I was able to navigate myself into getting everything that I needed.





After gathering my information together and realizing that I not only wanted a career in the medical industry, but that I wanted a career with flexibility and decent hours; I chose the dental hygienist route.





But this was based on my personal needs, nursing, rad tech and respiratory therapy all had the potential to work afternoons and nights; I have homework to do with the kids- so this would not work out as well. Not to mention they are getting invoved in more extracricular activities and I would like to be able to see them in action.





I got my letter of acceptance into the dental hygienist program and start in May. Your hard work and dedication will pay off no matter which choice you make.





Good Luck with your choice, both of these careers are great to look into for future growth and advancement.