Nursing vs. Dentistry vs. Optometry vs. ???

Psata · May 10, 2015

Are you nearing the end of your Freshman, Sophomore or Junior in College at the moment? How many credits have you completed so far and how many credits are required to graduate? What is your projected GPA by the end of this semester? Your grades will pretty much dictate your career options going forward. What college level science courses have you completed to date?

There are many healthcare career options available to you, if you care to look into them (example, Cardiovascular Perfusionist, Nursing [CRNA, NP], Physician Assistant, Anesthesiologist Assistant, etc.). Most of these careers required a graduate degree, so getting the required prerequisites out of the way will be the most critical objective during your undergraduate program. Obviously, the prerequisites vary, depending on your final career choice, but there is some amount of overlap. Maybe you should envision what you see yourself see doing 5,10,15,20 years from now and what you think you will enjoy doing for the foreseeable future. Since you are unsure at this stage of the game, you might consider one of the professions with the greatest flexibility and one which give you enough wiggle room to transition into other areas of the profession, if you so desire in the future.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 10, 2015

I have a colleague who's an RN and owns her own company... it's not a nursing company but she does own it.

I'm not too worried about Optometrists going out of business, 1-800 contacts doesn't know over the phone what strength prescription the client needs. There are not a lot of Optometry programs around, though, and they are extremely competitive.

You could always apply to medical school and go the Ophthalmology track if you're that worried about Optometrists being a thing of the past.

You don't seem interested in nursing based on your OP.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 11, 2015

I intend to work in the Bay Area/Socal after graduation.

The Bay area and southern CA are two of the absolute worst employment markets for new grad RNs in the entire country.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 11, 2015

You can certainly practice independently as a nurse practitioner. This will mean an undergrad degree and graduate study. There are direct-entry programs where you do it all at once with some time and money savings. You can also practice autonomously with just an undergrad degree in other areas if nursing, such as pt advocacy, case management, legal nursing, or life care planning, but you'd be well -advised to get some good clinical years under your belt to give you the better judgment you'd need for those.

Short answer: want a good career with autonomy, be prepared to put the years in, one way or another. Good luck with whatever you decide.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · May 11, 2015

Why would optometrists be not needed anymore? I've never heard of that? I would think it's a booming business right now especially with Laser surgery. I'm wondering do you want to be an optometrist or opthamologist? With the baby boomers out there having problems with their eyes as they are aging, I would think it would be a great field. Personally, I hate eyeballs. I can barely touch my own to put contacts in. I don't get grossed out by much, but eyeballs are one. Lol.

I love my optometrist at Walmart. She is awesome and knows her stuff. But an optometrist is going to work in a retail commercial place and will not be able to own their own business. An opthamologist will be able to own their own business as they are a doctor. That would be where all of the eye surgery will take place.

Nurse Practitioners can own their own business. As far as physicians go, I don't think of the grumpy old man. My son's pediatrician is not like that at all. The whole practice is great. They have about 10 physicians and are open 7 days a week which I like. There is a shortage of physicians right now. It might be something to consider.

Nurses and physicians though are two different jobs in the health care field. The physician treats the disease. The nurse treats the patient and how they respond to the disease. It's two completely different trains of thought. Pathology has always fascinated me. If I had it to do all over again, I would probably be a physician or microbiologist. Not going to start medical school though at 39. And I don't want to own my own business. The business side of medicine is not something I would like to deal with.

Just keep researching your options and see what is best for you. You will be the one going to work everyday and need to enjoy what you do. Good Luck!!

technofreak · May 11, 2015

The fact that you want to own your own practice, means you appreciate a high level of autonomy and, among other things, may want freedom, status, and the ability to work and make decisions alone. If you go with nursing you will be wholly disappointed. As much as it pains for me to say this because I am a nurse, nurses are subordinates to the medical field. We endure frequent schedule changes, lack of appreciation by superiors and colleagues, short staffing, and poor working conditions. While the aforementioned describes the plight of staff nurses and you are seeking advice on becoming an entrepreneur, what many have not stated and what GrnTea alluded to, is you will have to put in the years establishing credibility in order to become a successful nurse entrepreneur. In layman's terms, you are going to have be cool playing subordinate before "calling the shots." Additionally after years of hard work, your "shot-calling" will be limited by legislation as to what nurses can and cannot do, and also by the lack of collaborative efforts between other health-care professionals who feel that nurses are best-suited playing the subordinate role.

Dentists seems to enjoy the autonomous/entrepreneurial climate that you seek, however the biggest deterring factor in opening up your own place as a dentist is the high overhead. You stated that your parents are dentist, can you work for/with them? You also stated that mouths don't interest you, as someone who's currently in a professison in which she absolutely detest, I applaud you for recognizing the importance of liking what you do.

You are absolutely correct in you assessment on the current state of optometry. To add fuel to the fire, you should include limited choice of schools and high tuition, surprisingly low pay for a doctorally prepared professional, and decreasing job opportunities. Not to mention, you will have fierce competition as an independent optometrist from your fellow colleagues and big-box stores that can afford to offer steep discounts. However job satisfaction is high among optometrists. Most optometrists enjoy what they do, it seems to be a low stress environment, and many optometrists practice well into retirement age. My optometrist is 67 :). Not to mention you stated you enjoy this line of work, this is huge!

My vote is to take the required prerequisites and go to medical school and become an ophthalmologist. While you have not investigated this route, medical school does come with a lot of obstacles, the most obvious is the time-commitment, but the rewards are unparalleled. You will command a high salary, respect, and most importantly the ability to truly call the shots.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 11, 2015

The fact that you want to own your own practice, means you appreciate a high level of autonomy and, among other things, may want freedom, status, and the ability to work and make decisions alone. If you go with nursing you will be wholly disappointed. As much as it pains for me to say this because I am a nurse, nurses are subordinates to the medical field.

Wrong-o, but spoken from the perspective of someone who has only ever worked in a hospital or clinic. I am so not subordinate in my nursing work. I worked to get here, but I am nobody's handmaiden, don't take "orders," and celebrate the awesomeness that is nursing autonomy and power for making it possible for me every single working day.

Iknowwha2du · May 11, 2015

Become a Doctor if you can. If you really want to be in charge and put out orders...then becoming a Doctor is the better option. You work more independently, the pay is great and you will be better respected. I am a nurse and this is my opinion. There are many options as far as becoming a Doctor...look into it.

kungpoopanda · May 12, 2015

Do anything that isn't nursing. It is a lie that nursing is an independent profession for adults. Don't be sucked in.

amoLucia · May 12, 2015

Pharmacy Pharmacy Pharmacy Pharmacy

Not trying to throw something else into your pot, but if I were to do it again, I'd go Pharmacy.

Clean, well-paid, autonomous, private practice, professional role diversity.

Did I say Pharmacy?!? Honestly, I'm sorry I never pursued it.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 12, 2015

Pharmacy Pharmacy Pharmacy Pharmacy
Not trying to throw something else into your pot, but if I were to do it again, I'd go Pharmacy.
Clean, well-paid, autonomous, private practice, professional role diversity.
Did I say Pharmacy?!? Honestly, I'm sorry I never pursued it.

A recent poll of healthcare folks around here found that the ones with the HIGHEST stress were pharmacists. Few are really autonomous, as most pharmacies have been bought up by chains. Wanna work for MallWart?

They are seriously understaffed in a very high-pressure job where failures are really, really not tolerated, and often have to oversee unlicensed staff whose work they're responsible for. I have a friend who was -- was -- a pharmacist and he took early retirement after almost having a nervous breakdown, in his words. His physician told him his BP was through the roof and he had to get out of the stress.

And you know, if you don't like math and chemistry, forget trying to pass pharmacy school.