When did we become???

Dave ARNP · Nov 7, 2003

No... I do not get offended when a pt. refers to me as their NP.

I do however... Well, it really just annoys me but, I wish we could educate our pts so that they don't refer to us their doctor.

That one is second to hearing pts say "I've see Dr. X, and I saw David once too... But he's only an NP"

Now that one irks me.

Dave:rolleyes:

karenG · Nov 7, 2003

now that I can sympathise with!! so, I have done a total of 13yrs training just to be a 'nurse'!? ok so I get irritated at that- I worked long and hard to earn the title nurse practitioner!! actually - that a pet peeve so might get on the soap box! I get irritated when I meet nurses who tell me they are NP's but have only done a weeks course they have no idea!! Over here the title nurse practitioner is not protected, so anyone can use it!! and that really annoys me:(

Karen

Tim-GNP · Nov 8, 2003

I guess in this thread, I am just the 'odd ball.' Which is OK, I tend to be the odd ball in most threads.

I call my collaborating MD 'my doctor' and he calls me 'his nurse practitioner.' I don't think either do it out of a sense of ownership or an attempt to disrespect the other, rather, I think we just do it out of a sense of being colleagues.

My population is also different than most. My specialty is Gerontology- I don't see a soul under 65--- and that's young. The majority of my patients are in their mid 70's to 90's. They do not comprehend the concept of CRNP licensure or certification. They think I am studying to be a doctor, or I am the doctor's nurse. I don't take offense. I spend the time I have with them educating them about how to use their medication properly. I write out [in big print] a new sheet at each visit that gives them detailed instructions on how and when to take which medication. To my patient's' I think this is more important than explaining what a nurse practitioner is.

I do my thing.... they get the care they need. I'm pretty happy with that.

Insofar as who is better--- the NP or the MD--- neither. One is not better than the other- they are just different.

My 2 cents.

karenG · Nov 8, 2003

Tim, I guess you said what I was trying to say!! its about patient care... and when I think about it, most of my patients call me Karen so who care! I am happy with who I am and the job I do- I dont wear a uniform or a name badge!! only problems I get are when people see me in the shops and remember me....'cos I usually dont remember them... I have 9000 patients!

Karen

MelissaCT · Nov 12, 2003

MD Terminator:

" I then point them to the brochure on what an NP is. "

What brochure is that?

I am a student, and I have some relatives/friends/etc. that don't really get what a nurse practitioner is/can do.

I tell them in my own words, but would love a brochure!

:)

Dave ARNP · Nov 12, 2003

The AANP (I beleive it is them) has a brochure that you can purchase telling pts. I beleive that I got it through npcentral.com.

I like it because it tells what a NP is, what they can do, and why you should choose a NP.

If I can hunt up the link I will post it.

Dave

MelissaCT · Nov 13, 2003

Thanks Dave!

:)

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Nov 13, 2003

Man,I can sure relate! That thing about feeling like you are almost invisible, that you are less than.

At the risk of beating a dead horse, ask any woman, especially any married woman. Make that any mother as well. And I'm gonna guess that it is also the experience, even now, of racial minorities and of immigrants who still sound or look like they aren't quite one of us (yet)....

It's so degrading not to be seen as a freely functioning, competent individual based on our skills and actions, isn't it!

Incidentally, I have started seeing the NP at my clinic lately. (Actually, my first visit was just before I joined this happy group, and one of your posts, Dave, helped cement my conviction that the NP route was the way to go!!) I love my doc, but sometimes I'd rather have someone who is more personable, more personal, I don't know--the NP is different.

You know, maybe this is the wrong way to go, and I may come back later and amend myself, but if I had a problem that required surgery, I would not expect my family doc or my NP to perform it, but I would go to a surgeon because that's who can do what I need done, and well.

The NP did not go to medical school, and is not a doc. There's nothing wrong with that! My doc, God love him, didn't go to nursing school--he freely admits (when and where appropriate) that there are areas about which he is clueless. And that's OK.

And about those wonderful, little old patients and their mindsets--I am an older than usual nursing student, and at work I am certainly an older than usual nurse extern. My little old patients usually think I am "in charge." They cannot conceive of someone my age in my position!

But they love me anyway.

Flu will do weird things to your head, but you've got a point, Dave.

At the risk of REALLY antagonizing people (and I don't mean to, honestly), we allegedly teach people how to treat us (okay! I'm ducking!). I'd love to get some feedback and input on how we can behave and/or interact such that we inspire people to treat us as the professionals we are, and not appendages of someone else.

(BTW, before entering nursing school, I got--and still have--a license as a psychotherapist. Same problem with relative identity--let's just see the psychiatrist, psych nurse or the social worker do what I do! And they can't because that's not what they are about. That's OK--I can't do some of their stuff either....)

Thanks for starting this thread.

EastCoast · Nov 15, 2003

ooooohhhh ....

i had to post the most annoying thing that was said to me this week by my sister in law (who is a past med/surg and current L&D nurse):

she said "I can't believe what you do as an NP...I tell everyone I work with that you do everything that a PA does". This was followed with "i mean you are just like a medical student"

It's sad that one can't jump through the phone isn't it??

No matter how i try to help her to understand the differences in background, theory, and sometimes practice she holds a PA in a higher regard than the NP.

Frosts my butt

mbess02 · Nov 18, 2003

MD Terminator: I am surprised by your username. Why do you consider yourself to be an MD terminator? I am curious.

Dave ARNP · Nov 19, 2003

This is my username because I simply have no use for MD's.

NP's are equally trained, be it differently.

When a MD implies that NP's are inadquately trained, I simply "terminate" that line of thinking.

Dave:D

EastCoast · Nov 19, 2003

amen

east coast.