I am a dental hygienist, and if I could go back in time and do it all over again, I'd go into nursing. Contrary to the previous answer, dental hygiene is NOT a cake walk compared to nursing, in fact I had many of the same classes as nursing students and dental students. I went to a four year university with a dental school though, so I know that the classes in a two year community college setting would be different. However, the job opportunities where I am (Michigan) are nowhere near as good for hygienists as they are for nurses, nor are the salaries competitive. I am currently working in a job I am not too fond of with no benefits at ALL because there is just nothing else out there.

Nursing because it pays more and in some areas they need nurses badly. Dental Hygienist would probably be an easier study, but there is only so many of those per dentist.

Nursing because after graduating as a dental hygienist I can barely find work. Also I learned after becoming a hygienist that licenses do not transfer all over the country. You take a regional exam and can't leave that region unless you RETEST all over again. Not easy to do.

Nurses can go anywhere! And more jobs available.

I'm not sure about the other answerers, but I think I'm going to have to boil it down to "it depends on where you live." Where I live, there is a huge shortage of dental hygienists and they get paid more than practical nurses (RN's obviously make more than both careers, but that's because they have further education).

Also, don't choose a career over money; choose something that you like to do. I have a friend who went into practical nursing and got paid okay, but couldn't handle the stress anymore, so she had to quit and go back to college.