The major that I am pursuing is Nursing. My goal one day is to become a Neonatal Nurse Practioner or traveling Nurse Practioner.
I never thought I would want to be a Nurse since all my life I have wanted to be a Pediatrician or surgeon of some kind. The thing that did know was that I wanted to work with children, so no matter where life took me my career would involve pediatrics. I am a very indecisive person, so when I actually set my mind to a Nursing career I was shocked. In high school, I had an internship with an Anesthesiologist at Chesapeake Regional because that was a career that I wanted to pursue as well. In my junior year of high school, however, I did job shadowing hours with a Nephrology Nurse Practioner, and absolutely loved it! I was not interested in the department of Nephrology, but I liked a Nurse Practitioner career. After much research, I came to the conclusion that a Neonatal Nurse Practioner is what I wanted to do in life.
Parallel Major
- The Parallel Major I chose was a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene.
- I chose this major because I can see myself working in a dentist’s office if Nursing does not work out. I think working with people’s teeth is interesting and seems pretty straightforward. What is more interesting is that not only will I be able to clean teeth, but also take and develop x-rays. This major not only provides the opportunity to educate people on their oral health but also incorporates another interesting field, which is radiology.
Interesting Facts
- 97%+ first time pass rate on National Dental Hygiene Board examinations and Dental Hygiene Clinical Board examinations
- As a dental hygiene major, you’ll train to treat decay, diseases, and injuries of the mouth.
- Train to treat decay, diseases, and injuries of the mouth.
- Learn how to teach patients to care for their own teeth and gums.
- Graduates from this major have worked in Johnson and Johnson, universities, and private dental practices.
The career I researched was a Dental Hygienist.
Information About Career:
- This career provides clinical procedures that typically include the removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth.
- Dental hygienists may also expose and process dental X-rays.
- Apply cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants, and even administer antimicrobial agents.
- MEDIAN SALARY – $74,680
Plan for Pursuing this Major:
Freshman Year
Take classes such as English, Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, and Sociology.
Sophomore Year
This year you will finish your Upper-Division T- courses and General Education courses such as electives, more advanced Biology, Statistics, and Literature.
Junior Year
This year you will take more dental Hygiene focused courses like Dental Hygiene Theory classes, Oral Pathology, and even Oral Radiology. This year will also be more packed as you will be taking classes that total 16-17 credit hours per semester.
Senior Year
The last year to become a Dental Hygienist involves more advanced Dental Hygiene Theory courses, and services, as well as Research Methods in Health Sciences and Community Oral Health Practices.
Additional Classes:
To pursue a career with a major in Dental Hygiene you will need to take summer courses that include a course in Dental Hygiene in Theory and Services and a course on Anxiety and Pain Control.
How could you gain professional experiences to learn more about this area of study?
To gain professional experiences gaining internships at local dental offices will help you learn more about this area of study.