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Would Like To Get Info On Jobs In Dental Hygiene And Radiology/sonography. Trying To Decide On New Career.?

I am 32. My youngest son is almost 5. Going to be starting school. Trying to decide if I should go back to school for some kind of career to better our future (so it’s not all on my husband). These two options interest me. Just wanted to maybe get some info on these jobs. To make a better informed decision. Hoping some nice people out there can help me out. Let me know if you enjoy your job, what all you do (I know somewhat, just want your take on it), and approx. what you make. I live in Northwest Indiana, about 40 mins. from Chicago.
Any info you can give me will be so helpful. Thank you in advance for helping someone try to improve her life. Thanx again!!

Posted on October 28, 2009 at 4:32 pm by radiology · Permalink
In: Radiology Technician Jobs · Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

2 Responses

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  1. Written by sunflowe
    on October 28, 2009 at 4:48 pm
    Permalink

    I am going to school for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and my best friend is a Dental Hygienist. Both are great career choices with flexibility and good pay. For sonography, the most common route is an 18 month – 2 year associate’s degree program. For DH, a 2 year associate is most prevalent. There are more options within the field of sonography (more specializations) than with hygiene. Or you could choose to complete a Radiology program first and then take a 1 year certification in sonography. These websites have some great basic info about both careers to get you started:
    DH: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm
    DMS: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm
    Just make sure that for whatever you choose, find a program that is accredited.
    I really recommend that you job shadow each of these to get a better idea of what’s involved on a daily basis. Good luck :)

  2. Written by An excellent advice giver
    on October 28, 2009 at 5:38 pm
    Permalink

    Going to school for hygiene or radiology is a full time program only. There are no night programs. You go to classes and clinic (or hospitals for rad tech) 5 days a week. On top of all that you have group projects, exams, and lots of reading. Very hard for a parent to do. Basically you have no life outside of college until you are done.
    If your final grade in a hygiene or rad tech class is a failing grade (usually 75 or lower is considered failing grade) then you FLUNK OUT of the entire program. You have to reapply and start all over again if you fail out of the program.
    Also right now hospitals are having hiring freezes due to the economy and hygiene jobs are hard to find right now. Traditionally hygienist were married women, on their husbands insurance, with kids looking for a little extra income. So it is almost impossible to live off a hygiene salary.
    I graduated more than 1 year ago as a hygienist and it took me 9 months to find a job. AND I only work 1 day a week and every other saturday. That was the ONLY work I could get as a hygienist. Jobs are scarce right now for hygienists. And job openings are only 1-2 days a week I discovered after graduating.