Is anybody else tired of the nurse practitioner craze?

Specialties NP

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Hi all. I am a new graduate RN who is enjoying his first job as a med-surg nurse. I don't know about everyone else, but I am so tired of the nurse practitioner craze that seems to be overtaking the newest wave of graduate RNs. Half the people I know at my new job are part-timers in grad school for a master's degree as a family nurse practitioner or a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Good on them, but does anyone else think the idea of a mid-level practitioner has been taken a bit too far?

I don't know about all of you, but if I had a medical issue, I wouldn't bother seeing an NP. I'd go straight to an MD. The idea of an NP seems folly to me. Either you are a nurse or you aren't one. Or, either you practice medicine or you don't. A nurse practicing some form of low-level to mid-level medicine seems absurd.

The position also seems discredited by the variance in the scope of practice among different states and the fact that NPs can never do surgery. If NPs had limitless prescription power, and could be trained for some surgeries, we'd be looking at something real. But the NP's that I have seen "practicing" at my hospital just seem to be adjunct to the MDs who see their patients. The patients don't take the NPs seriously for just that reason. They seem roleless. I feel like the hospital hires them just as tokens. I don't see NP's as the future of nursing -- AT ALL. There is this one lady nurse practitioner at my hospital who goes into the patients' room and says "Hi, my name is Kristen and I'm the nurse practitioner," and begins some interview while I as the bedside nurse think to myself "You know that patient doesn't care right? You know they will just forget about you once they are seen by the actual MD?" Of course I never say that. But that's what is in my mind. I see no point in them.

I see pure bedside nursing as our future. Nursing education. Stuff more involved in social services.

I think NPs are suffering from an identity crisis. Let me know your thoughts too.

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Specializes in ICU.

I think they serve their purpose as a midlevel provider, I considered it, and that was about it, I know this isnt true for all of them but what i've seen of them working in a hospital setting is them taking the lighter (less complicated) cases from the doctor. If after my 8+ years of school I am still second fiddle, I would have an issue. Thus i've decided to start taking my pre-med and go that route.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

NP's have made it very possible for me and my kiddos to get into the doctor for minor things in less then 6-8 weeks. Now if I had serious problems I would see an MD. But I think NP's have their place and are a great asset. One of my CI was an Acute Care NP hospitalist that had 20 plus years of ICU bedside nursing experience. She is one of the nicest, smartest people I know. I love that I work with her now. She really knows her stuff.

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I prefer to see the FNPs in my doctor's office than the physician that works there. She (the physician) is NOT thorough whatsoever.. she just prescribes painkillers to cover up the symptoms rather than find out what's actually going on. I went to the FNP that worked there and finally got everything resolved. In my experience, I'd prefer a FNP over a physician, in a doctor's office setting anyway..

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Specializes in Mixed ICU, OHU.

i prefer seeing nurse practitioners. I feel I am respected much more, and am not just another $$ for the NPs I see.

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I feel that NP's are very valuable in a variety of settings. Maybe the setting in which you are working doesn't value NP's, but every setting in which I have worked, NP's have been very valued.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Nope, I do not agree.

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Well, if it weren't for the severe shortage of md's willing to go into primary care, perhaps there wouldnt' be such a demand for NP's. Seems that graduates of medical schools are finding that specialty roles are just more lucrative.

So, NP's do a great job of filling that void.

I see an NP for primary care and am very satisfied so far. A LOT of people will tell me that they see no one but an NP and they love it.

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I think it realey depends on the person I know one NP that is better then the doc she works for . and I know another one that is worse ! But the same can be said for a lot of doctors there are grate doctors and real bad ones . in the case of mid level providers I think they annd pa are ok "as long as you know whats wrong with you "

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

Nope, I do not agree with the OP either. Have met several wonderful NP's that are fantastic at what they do. Many times I feel like I am part of an assembly line in the MD's office but the NP takes a much more holistic viewpoint.

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Specializes in ER.

I'm getting some popcorn and gonna pull up a chair on this one.

Being a new grad, and by your statements, you really are clueless about the important role midlevels assume. NP's and PA's both serve to fill the gap left by lack of primary care docs. Let me ask you this, if you had a medical problem and called your doc how long would you have to wait for an appointment. Most docs in my area its 4 wks or more. How would that number change if they had a midlevel in the office seeing pts? Could cut it by 50%. I've worked with outstanding providers from all camps, MD, DO, NP, PA and all give good quality care. Just do a little research before you label a provider roleless. just my 2cents

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Well, if it weren't for the severe shortage of md's willing to go into primary care, perhaps there wouldnt' be such a demand for NP's. Seems that graduates of medical schools are finding that specialty roles are just more lucrative.

So, NP's do a great job of filling that void.

I see an NP for primary care and am very satisfied so far. A LOT of people will tell me that they see no one but an NP and they love it.

Exactly, you hit the nail on the head. More and More MD's are choosing not to go into the family practice field. Which is going to leave us in a bad position shortly. That being said I am one that prefers NP's and PA's over MD's. I think they are more personal and much more willing to listen and come up with solutions instead of just throwing meds at you.

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