Optometrist Vs Nurse Practitioner 

When it comes to choosing a career, you have to be very careful, because after all, this is what you’re intending to do for the rest of your life. College is an expensive endeavor and you want to know that you have a passion for the career you choose. There are quite a few ways that you can narrow down your search for the perfect career path. 

If you have narrowed the path down to either becoming an optometrist or a nurse practitioner, then you are headed in the right direction. Here, you will learn what you need to know about these two top professions to help you make up your mind. 

Becoming an Optometrist 

Everyone has heard someone utter the words where can I get prescription sunglasses before. You know that the need is there, and feel that you would make a great optometrist. 

An optometrist is by definition a doctor who provides primary vision care. This type of doctor also treats eye problems, diseases, and disorders. 

Duties and responsibilities for an optometrist include the following. 

• Perform vision tests and give results
• Give eye exams
• Diagnose and treat ocular issues
• Prescribe glasses and contacts when needed
• Evaluate patients for underlying causes of eye problems, such as diabetes

Salary 

As with any other career out there, the more education you have, the more the job pays. Salaries for optometrist vary with the median income coming in at over $110,000 annually. 

Education Needed

There’s quite a bit of education needed to become an optometrist, but if you have a passion for helping people and want to make a decent annual salary, then this is probably the career for you. Most people who seek a career as an optometrist first receive a bachelor’s degree in medical science or pre-med before joining the program. 

There is a test that you have to take to get into the optometrist program. You also have to complete a 4-year program, then complete a residency program, as well as pass your licencing exam. Also, you have to keep abreast of the latest inventions and tech to keep your licence and taking continuing education classes. 

If you are interested in becoming an optometrist, it’s best to check into a school that offers those courses. It’s a good career if you love to help people and enjoy the science side of things as well. 

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner 

The second career that you might be considering is that of a nurse practitioner. There is always a RN-BSN program out there that is looking for students, and nursing is a field that always needs the help of good people, who are dedicated to helping others. 

A nurse practitioner is someone who already has an RN degree, who gets their BSN and is allowed to practice independently. While they still perform all of the duties of a registered nurse, nurse practitioners can also diagnose patients, prescribe treatments and medications, as well as oversee their patient’s total care. If you are passionate about helping others, this is a field of medicine that is always looking for a few good dedicated professionals. You can also search for free CNA Classes near me.

Salary

The median salary for nurse practitioners is just under $100,000 a year. That varies, of course, according to the experience you have, where you practice, and your degree of education. 

These are just a few of the things you need to know to help you choose between a career as an optometrist or a nurse practitioner. If you are passionate about helping others and want a career that is both personally and financially rewarding, then either of these is a great choice for careers in the medical field.