I have been a hygienist in N. Calif. for 7 years but I'm getting burned out. Should I go into nursing? I'm 36.

As a nurse myself, I think you will face the same difficulties in nursing. Much is expected of nurses with little to show in appreciation except some pen, tote bag, or other cheap token once a year during Nurse's Week. The politics and paperwork of nursing are a problem, especially when you are asked to care for a higher patient load then ever before due to budget cutting by hospital administrations. The lifting is there in certain areas of nursing, but usually CNAs do much of the direct patient care or ist you. Nursing also works on time constraints and you cannot give each patient the time you would like, not even doctors (especially) can do that. If you don't mind moving around the hospital, due to your size, you might consider something more independent within the hospital, like being a registered respiratory therapist. Much less chance of burnout, heavy lifting, etc. Just my two cents after 23 years in nursing.