I want to leave Dental Assisting? Â

I want to leave Dental Assisting?  

answers 0:I have been in this profession on and off since 1999, totaling over 10 years. I want out. Dentistry ranks high as one of the most stressful jobs ever for a reason. If someone has been lucky enough to work with a dentist that isn't high strung and doesn't treat them like a lower class citizen consider yourselves lucky. I have worked with many and most (not all) were/are a nightmare. I'm currently top assistant, hold the highest seniority and all but bottom line; I'm not happy and it took a very serious toll on my mental well-being. I'm paid well hourly but that's the only positive.Here comes the scary part: I'm leaving to go back to being a Cosmetologist. I'm licensed so that's taken care of. Who leaves a medical profession to be a hair stylist? Nobody. I'm 38 years old and I am scared. I just want to be happy and only need about 25-27k a year to live comfortably. I have sa! vings in the bank in case the first year I don't do so well as back up. Believe me I have all my ducks in a row and have been planning my "escape" for a while. It's seems most people don't have much faith in this decision. I don't blame them but I am determined. Am I crazy for doing this? This feels so beneath me but maybe my Doc's arrogance has rubbed off. Thoughts?(I live in the midwest in case anyone is wondering.)...Show moreanswers 1:I would say that you have been in this profession for a very long time and know the ins and outs. You obviously are burnt out from this profession and it has impacted your quality of life. If you aren't content and feel satisfied with what you do on a daily basis, then honestly.........at the end of the day, pay, doesn't replace 40 hours a week of a nightmare. We spend a lot of time at work....8 hours a day. That is a long time weekly and monthly to feel discontent with what you do. One of the challenges with burn out in jobs like you! have is that your setting is going to be the same wherever yo! u go, of course people are different, but you have been in the business long enough to get a sense where you reside of the climate of the dental offices where you live.You honestly have nothing to lose by trying this new venture in cosmetology. We only have one life.....and stress definitely has a physical impact on our lives. It can even impact our health. At the end of the day if you are miserable at work......then to me, 8 hours of misery isn't worth it. It probably has impacted your off time too so it has had an impact on your leisure time as well, because you probably can't help from thinking about how horrible things are for you at work.You wouldn't want to end up with a stress related physical condition from continuing to work in a field that hasn't been on your best side. I say go for the cosmetology.......it could work out really well and you may love it...BUT you will never know unless you take this new endeavor in your life. You already know what it is like! where you are.......it probably can't be any worse?!?...answers 2:Educated, that's another thing I didn't mention is that I receive ZERO medical benefits..or any benefits for that matter. I have looked for another dental position for over a year but nothing came up that was any more ideal. I decided to take that as a sign to move on. I have several friends working as a stylist right now that are making it just fine, if it doesn't work out I can always go back to dental hell. Monique, I agree with you 100%...all of this stress that I deal with and take home is not worth it. Thank you. :)...answers 3:Honestly do what makes you happy. If you are too stressed as a Dental Assistant then leave, no use in shortening your life with stress.answers 4:Educated, that's another thing I didn't mention is that I receive ZERO medical benefits..or any benefits for that matter. I have looked for another dental position for over a year but nothing came up that was any more ideal. I decided t! o take that as a sign to move on. I have several friends working as a s! tylist right now that are making it just fine, if it doesn't work out I can always go back to dental hell. Monique, I agree with you 100%...all of this stress that I deal with and take home is not worth it. Thank you. :)...answers 5:I suggest just finding another dental office to work for. Leaving a secure job to work in cosmetology is a bad idea in a recession! Many people aren't getting their haircut by a hairstylist or are going less often then before. I see the proof with hair salons that I have gone into. The one that my mother always goes to has a lot less employees now and usually only the 2 owners are there cutting hair. They are not as busy as they were years ago. It got so slow that they don't have a ton of other stylists anymore. Just the 2 of them and 1 or 2 part time employees and one receptionist. Bad idea to go from having money, dental care, and health insurance to having maybe an hourly wage or living off of tips with possibly NO health insurance.If you dis! like the dentist just apply elsewhere! Or become an orthodontic assistant! You work more one on one with the patient and the job isn't as difficult as being a general practice dental assistant. And you could get the job right now, from your years of working as a dental assistant....