MD shortage prompts UDM to shorten PA program

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  1. This is a discussion on MD shortage prompts UDM to shorten PA program in Nurse Practitioners (NP), part of Advanced Practice Nursing ... Detroit Free Press, 3-2-06: Doctor shortage prompts Univ of Detroit Mercy to shorten physician...

    by Mar 3, '06
    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1019/BUSINESS

    Detroit Free Press, 3-2-06: Doctor shortage prompts Univ of Detroit Mercy to shorten physician assistant program: The UDM will admit a selected group of students to train to become PAs in five years instead of six to help meet the demand for primary care amid a growing shortage of doctors ....


    Where, oh where, is talk about APRNs? CNMs? "Allowing" APRNs to practice within their full scope of practice here and in all 50 states to care for pts? Where are the nurses? I'm so spitting mad at this right now ... are PAs the midlevel practitioner of choice of MDs and insurers, due to their direct relationship with MDs, the "physician" in their title, but without independent licensure (as APRNs have)? How are/will graduate nursing programs respond to this? What's next, PAs will be trained to deliver babies, while fewer MDs do deliveries, and CNMs and CPMs are driven out of business and get more and more **** from state medical boards, private MDs, insurers, and more and more midwifery practices are forced to close?

    End of vent/rant ....
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    by Selke Mar 3, '06 10:14 am
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  3. 20 Comments so far...

  4. Mar 6, '06 by
    I find it very interesting that PAs seem to be touted as those who will "save the day" while NPs are left in the dirt once again. I would think that physicians would rather have an NP that they don't have to cosign every detail with. Nurse practitioners have worked with physicians in collaboration for many years with exemplary results. Why do we continue to have to scrap for every recognition? I never hear of anyone complaining that PAs are "trying to be physician extenders" and hear constantly how NPs are trying to be just that??? Are MDs so worried about losing their patients to us? We are not here to steal patients, just give them the best care possible. I don't think speeding up the educational process will do that.. I don't want someone who sped through their program taking care of me..
    NPs Save Lives http://www.arnp.blogspot.com
  5. Mar 6, '06 by
    Essentially nursing is doing something. Don't you see all the Direct-Entry Master's Programs, 12-month BSN programs, ADN-MSN programs popping up all over the country? Why is that some nurses always feel as if they and the nursing profession are somehow being cheated? Why can't we for once focus on what we are doing for our patients and not be so concerned with what the "physcians"/public/whoever think? I'm sorry, but I'm just sick and tired of this whiney attitude that I have come to find so frequently..
  6. Mar 6, '06 by
    Quote from JScottRN
    I find it very interesting that PAs seem to be touted as those who will "save the day" while NPs are left in the dirt once again. I would think that physicians would rather have an NP that they don't have to cosign every detail with. Nurse practitioners have worked with physicians in collaboration for many years with exemplary results. Why do we continue to have to scrap for every recognition? I never hear of anyone complaining that PAs are "trying to be physician extenders" and hear constantly how NPs are trying to be just that??? Are MDs so worried about losing their patients to us? We are not here to steal patients, just give them the best care possible. I don't think speeding up the educational process will do that.. I don't want someone who sped through their program taking care of me..
    NPs Save Lives http://www.arnp.blogspot.com

    A person after my own heart!!! Totally agree with you. Thanks for the blog reference. I'll start reading it!
  7. Mar 7, '06 by
    You're very welcome.. I like to find Nurse Practitioner/student blogs to read. If you know of any more, let me know!
  8. Mar 7, '06 by
    What they need to focus on is making an NP/PA to MD bridge program. Wouldn't that make more sense? just a thought............
  9. Mar 7, '06 by
    Quote from Joebird21
    What they need to focus on is making an NP/PA to MD bridge program. Wouldn't that make more sense? just a thought............
    I'm afraid NPs will be at disadvantage with such bridge programs, to which AMA, and AOA will never ever agree. PAs are in medical training model. Their education resembles a shorter version of the med school. IMHO, opinion no allied health profession will be able to get an advanced standing in American med schools.And rightfully so,I might add, after doing 2 semesters of basic science in the med schools. Guys,untill you've tried it:spin: ...trust me...you have NO IDEA.There is no comparison in volume and the depth of education.
  10. Mar 8, '06 by
    Quote from JScottRN
    You're very welcome.. I like to find Nurse Practitioner/student blogs to read. If you know of any more, let me know!
    Another student in my program mentioned a blog of a midwifery student at Columbia, "Belly Tales," something like that, which I found once on a google search. She is a nurse going to MW school. I'm writing about my experiences but not in a blog ....
  11. Admin
    Mar 8, '06 by
    I think each state is individual as to the preference of PAs over APNs. I live in IL and due to some concerns of my own, I have looked into our nurse practice act versus the PA practice act. In IL the APNs (CNS, NP, CNM) all practice independently with their own license. PA's practice under an MDs license and focus only on one particular disease process, ie ortho, renal, cardiac, etc. The APNs looks at the entire person and can write orders addressing all needs. At least where I work, the APNs are the preferred species of mid-level practitioner. I am fortunate that IL is a progressive state and that is saying something since the AMA is based in Chicago!
  12. Mar 8, '06 by
    Quote from traumaRUs
    I think each state is individual as to the preference of PAs over APNs. I live in IL and due to some concerns of my own, I have looked into our nurse practice act versus the PA practice act. In IL the APNs (CNS, NP, CNM) all practice independently with their own license. PA's practice under an MDs license
    You may want to recheck your sources. According to the IL Physician Assistant Practice Act, "Physician Assistant" means a person licensed by the Department and who practices in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987." PAs practice under physician supervison but not under another person's license.

    You are much more credible if you are armed with the facts, not misinformation