NP's are okay to see if you have a cold, BUT...

ERNP · Nov 19, 2006

I was talking about nurses and nursing faculty too. I won't move on to the general populace until we can come up with a semblance of a collective thought.

Besides, my interactions with the public would leave me to think many of them have a higher opinion of NPs than the OP

gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 19, 2006

one thing I do NOT like about the ad campaigns for the minute clinics and redi clinics - is that they give the public the idea that the only things an NP is qualified to diagnose and treat is sore throats and sunburn. I dont think the retail clinics are doing NP's any favors at all in that regard.

Drives me nuts.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 19, 2006

My patients like me - because I'm available to them and will talk on "their level." I work with a mostly minority, poverty-entrenched population and they like that they can come to me for just about anything and I won't put them off.

APN's are the wave of the future in medicine.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2006

In fairness to the OP, Motorcycle Mama, maybe she just hasn't had exposure to many APN's in her geographic area. Maybe I'm so pro-APN because in my area it is mainstream for them to be autonomous. In my area a few have their own practices. No physician collaberation required.

I'll admit that when I went back to school, I was clueless about CRNA's. Better to ask and learn about these things.

ERNP · Nov 20, 2006

one thing I do NOT like about the ad campaigns for the minute clinics and redi clinics - is that they give the public the idea that the only things an NP is qualified to diagnose and treat is sore throats and sunburn. I dont think the retail clinics are doing NP's any favors at all in that regard.
Drives me nuts.

Drives me nuts too!!

platon20 · Nov 23, 2006

IOften the NNPs were in charge of doc "work" rounds in the convalescing area of the nursery instead of one of the attendings.

What does this mean? ARe you saying the NNPs told the doctors the plan for the patient and the docs just followed their orders? If thats the case, why were the doctors even taking care of teh babies at all?

I dont understand why you need docs in a NICU when the NNPs were apparently doing everything.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2006

I assume, even though an NP can be a PCP, that an NP mostly treats colds, minor infections, gives physicals to truckers...but a NP certainly is not a doctor (even though the name on prescription bottles usually reads "Dr. so and so".)

I know a nurse practitioner who operates a cash-based women's health practice. She does a lot more than perform physicals and treat colds and infections.

This particular nurse practitioner charges $40 per visit and earns a lot of money since she does not have to deal with insurance companies. She has a cash-only practice.

Additionally, the last time I had a prescription written by an NP, the prescription bottle read "J******* E*******, CNP".

CrazyPremed, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 28, 2006

And another PA or NP might have said the same thing the MD did - depends on the person, their background, experience and exposure. Not the credentials. Give me a tenth year NP over a first year MD any day.

Alright, folks.

I'm all for NP's, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. The training of an NP - while VERY respectable and intense - does not compare to the training of a medical doctor. I am NOT flaming NP's here, just giving respect where it is due. I work with MD's, DO's, NP's, and PA's every day. There are many similarities between the two. But the knowledge base doesn't even come close.

CrazyPremed

zenman · Nov 28, 2006

Alright, folks.
I'm all for NP's, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. The training of an NP - while VERY respectable and intense - does not compare to the training of a medical doctor. I am NOT flaming NP's here, just giving respect where it is due. I work with MD's, DO's, NP's, and PA's every day. There are many similarities between the two. But the knowledge base doesn't even come close.
CrazyPremed

A few weeks ago, I was working a basketball game and the ref was telling me about visiting three specialists for his foot pain. He also told a nurse who said, "why don't you change your shoes?" He did, and the pain went away.

I'm sure everyone gets the point.

gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 28, 2006

And it isn't all about the training - you can train someone to the nth degree - but if they have no common sense...

MS, APRN, BC, FNP · Nov 28, 2006

Alright, folks.
I'm all for NP's, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. The training of an NP - while VERY respectable and intense - does not compare to the training of a medical doctor. I am NOT flaming NP's here, just giving respect where it is due. I work with MD's, DO's, NP's, and PA's every day. There are many similarities between the two. But the knowledge base doesn't even come close.
CrazyPremed

When a NP graduates from school, he/she should not be practicing independently. When a doc graduates from their pre med program, they of course should not be practicing independently. Both providers go through a kind of residency where they see patients until they're competent enough to be independent. For a NP that is more vague, but they do an equivalent residency. The NP gets their residency through their work experience.

I'm not sure what your saying about the knowledge base. I see some docs that don't seem to have a knowledge base from some of the things I've seen from their standard of practice. Again, it comes down to the competence of the individual not the credentials after their name. When it comes to the specialties, I'll give the docs their due (I know some great ones), but in general practice ask around who the best primary care provider is and you'll find just as many patients that prefer the NP over the MD as those who like their MD. I've had many patients leave their MD and come to me on a regular basis. Now, why is that? Even docs don't respect each other based on that MD after their name. Respect the person not the credentials. I'll take my reputation over some of the jokers that just happen to have an MD after their name in primary care any day. Having an MD after your name isn't like buying meat that has the USDA label on it. You can't always trust it by a long shot. Actually, you can't always trust the USDA label either. It would be nice if we could determine the quality of the healthcare we're getting just by looking at the credentials after the name but it's just not possible from my experience. It's better just to look at the providers name and then ask around.

You sound like idealistic premed student. Don't worry, you'll learn.

scribblerpnp · Nov 29, 2006

When I worked for a pediatric clinic, the NP would sometimes consult one of the physicians if she wasn't comfortable with a particular assessment finding. The docs would also consult her frequently, especially in regard to her area of special interest (child abuse/sexual assault issues).

This is SO true! I am blessed to work with a great pediatrician who is wonderful with team work. We both realize each others strengths and weaker areas and will consult one another or send our pts to follow-up with one another. We both love peds, but have our separate interests. Never once do I feel like I am an NP who justs takes care of runny noses. I take care of chronically ill children, order and interpret very important lab and diagnostic testing. I also took hospital call at another job as an NP where I admitted and D/C'd pts from the hospital. Often times, the pt would only see the MD one time (no later than 24 hours from admission, per hospital policy) and I would manage the care up to and following D/C. Sometimes I would consult the MD, sometimes not. It just depended on what was wrong and my level of knowledge and comfort in that area.

I think it would be a great idea to shadow an NP. You may be surprised!