tenrec

I don't know anything about PAs -- do they make that kind of money?

I was afraid of that. People (who are NOT nurses, I should add) have been telling me that nurses do really well. I know the CRNAs do, but I guess most nurses are not making the kind of money I need. I'm still going to look into nursing as a second career -- the benefits are good, and I can always supplement part time as an optometrist!

I have to disagree with you regarding your comments on optometry. I'm an optometrist and the scope of my profession goes far beyond merely examining eyes for glasses these days. We perform plenty of medical procedures and even some surgical ones. In addition, most of us prescribe medications these days. The scope of practice and the "skill set" is not terribly limited, and it is growing all the time. I actually know an ophthalmologist who feels that in the future, optometrists will do anything opthalmologists do today except for advanced surgical procedures. It's definitely a doctoral degree field!

I'm a doctor of optometry and I am considering a career change to nursing. The worst part about my current job is that there are absolutely no benefits (i.e., insurance, vacations, retirement, etc.), and if I want to take any time off, I not only don't get paid, but have to find and hire my own replacement. The business is extremely variable and there are times, like now, when I make very little money, while at other times I am very busy. The idea of nursing appeals to me and I believe that the fringe benefits are a lot greater. My family situation demands that I make at least $100,000 a year and preferably $120,000 or more. Am I going to be able to make anything like that as a nurse? I think I could as a nurse anesthetist, but I don't know if my situation will permit me to complete the educational program, which is full time for more than 2 years after becoming an RN. Just from a financial standpoint, is a nursing career likely to meet my needs? Thanks for any advice you can offer.