Dental Hygienist or Nursing to Dentist

[WiseGuy360]

Who would have a better chance of getting into a dental school? Dental Hygienist or RN? I'm about to start Bachelors in Dental Hygiene coming this fall. I'm already in my 30's and I have tons of responsibility. So, by the time I get my bachelors I might or I might not be interested in becoming a Dentist. And what what if I go for Bachelors of Science and not want to become a dentist anymore? Since RN and Dental Hygienist would be ready for job? And what kind of jobs a BS can get? What would you recommend in this situation?

Registered Nurse
Dental Hygienist
Bachelors on Science

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[I want to go to there]

I would go for hygienist. It's an easy job that pays well with good working condition. RN can be hard job that doesn't pay well and while there are many jobs BS can get you, I don't think most are as good as hygienist job.

I would assume hygienist would give you the best chance of getting into dental school, but idk how significant of an edge it would give you.

 

[dentalman89]

DH is the best option if you want to be a dentist, but you will still need to take the DAT and the dental school requirements, which are different from DH. RN is a really good option because you can continue your education and become an NP or DNP. Bachelors of Science just means you have more credits in your major compared to general education (Bachelors of Arts means you have more general education or less major requirements compared to the Bachelors of Science). Example: If you get your bachelors degree in nursing (BSN) you will receive a "Bachelors of Science in Nursing", or if you do DH you will receive a "Bachelors of Science in Dental Hygiene". I would stay away from Bachelors of Science in Biology or health science because its hard to find a high paying job without additional education.

 

[ajj70]

I would go for hygienist. It's an easy job that pays well with good working condition. RN can be hard job that doesn't pay well and while there are many jobs BS can get you, I don't think most are as good as hygienist job.

I would assume hygienist would give you the best chance of getting into dental school, but idk how significant of an edge it would give you.

Huh???? Average starting salary for a BSN in our area is $60,000 with salaries going over $100,000 after about 6-8 years of experience (hospital RN's). On average the pay is more than a hygienist, but yes, the RN work is often more physically taxing.

 

[CleverThought]

Huh???? Average starting salary for a BSN in our area is $60,000 with salaries going over $100,000 after about 6-8 years of experience (hospital RN's). On average the pay is more than a hygienist, but yes, the RN work is often more physically taxing.

Most of my BSN friends are starting in the high 30s/low 40s. The highest floor nursing salary I've heard of is almost 70k. I guess I know of one RN who makes 100k, but she works 2 full time jobs (3 12 hour shifts at each)

Now if OP did nursing and then decided to further that education, as opposed to pursuing DS, you can make some really good money as a NP or CRNA. Around here a CRNA makes about the same amount as a starting associate dentist.

 

[ajj70]

Most of my BSN friends are starting in the high 30s/low 40s. The highest floor nursing salary I've heard of is almost 70k. I guess I know of one RN who makes 100k, but she works 2 full time jobs (3 12 hour shifts at each)

Now if OP did nursing and then decided to further that education, as opposed to pursuing DS, you can make some really good money as a NP or CRNA. Around here a CRNA makes about the same amount as a starting associate dentist.

Salaries vary by area--what does a hygienist make in your area???

http://www.drexel.com/online-degrees/nursing-degrees/nursing-salary-guide/index.aspx

http://www1.salary.com/Dental-Hygienist-Salary.html

 

[Digitalangel]

really? nursing is a fantastic career, my mom makes 100k+ as an RN, and there are about another 3 RN's down the street from my house who also make a pretty good living...she has always suggested it to me as a career. especially since you can go back and become ARNP and such. i would choose nursing over a DH any day, granted they do work very hard, they have the potential to move up and manage, or go back to school. also the two hygienists i worked with told me if they did it all over again, they would have became nurses...

 

[I want to go to there]

Huh???? Average starting salary for a BSN in our area is $60,000 with salaries going over $100,000 after about 6-8 years of experience (hospital RN's). On average the pay is more than a hygienist, but yes, the RN work is often more physically taxing.

I said "can be a hard job that doesn't pay well". The nurses I know make like 40-50K a year, not what I would call "worth it" for the amount of work they do. OP should research how much RN and hygienist make in her desired area of practice before making the decision to pursue a career path.

 

[briamae_nl]

Fyi - being a dental hygienist is not easy !!!!!!! Nor is being a nurse. Both have their good points. I don't know about the US but here in Canada nurses get pensions and benefits. That does not happen for a DH.

Do whatever program you feel you will like the most ! Seriously

I would go for hygienist. It's an easy job that pays well with good working condition. RN can be hard job that doesn't pay well and while there are many jobs BS can get you, I don't think most are as good as hygienist job.

I would assume hygienist would give you the best chance of getting into dental school, but idk how significant of an edge it would give you.

 

[ajj70]

Whew. That's the first time I've heard of RNs making 100k+. But after digging around the web a bit, I've found that 100k+ salary for RNs is only possible in big cities and only if they take on duties that others don't want.

Not true......certainly they are not making that right out of college, but after 6-7 years of experience they are--talking BSN's working at hospitals...not an LPN working at a nursing home.

 

[ajj70]

So you are telling me that a 28 year old RN (BSN or whatever you wanna call it) can earn 100k+ in a rural area hospital without taking additional duties (i.e. working regular hours)?

Most likely, yes. Obviously its going to depend on other factors but with experience in many parts of the country, very likely. It's really not that big of a stretch when you look at starting salaries....

and to further blow your mind, ultrasound techs make about $65,000ish starting too....

 

[CleverThought]

Salaries vary by area--what does a hygienist make in your area???

http://www.drexel.com/online-degrees/nursing-degrees/nursing-salary-guide/index.aspx

http://www1.salary.com/Dental-Hygienist-Salary.html

RDH make between 70-80k here (based on my small sample size of people that I know)

 

[ajj70]

RDH make between 70-80k here (based on my small sample size of people that I know)

Right out of school?

 

[CleverThought]

Right out of school?

The one girl I know that's 2 years out of school makes in that range in a rural office.

 

[portlandstateofmind]

Nursing has more flexibility and upward mobility than dental hygiene. A BS is pretty useless unless you go farther in your education. Within 7 years of graduating from nursing school you should be making 90+k on the west coast at least, wages depend on region and cost of living. Source: Nurse for 7 years.

 

[w4nt2baDDS]

I'm already in my 30's and I have tons of responsibility. So, by the time I get my bachelors I might or I might not be interested in becoming a Dentist.

You need to decide what type of career is going to make you the happiest when you are 50 or 60 or even 65-70 years old and shoot for that.