Change of Name.

Specialties NP

Published

Would I be crazy to suggest that we change the name of Nurse Practitioners?

I would like to see us REMOVE the Nures from our names.

We are primary providers, not nurses.

I think it is a confusing term and demeans our practice.

thoughts?

They are not physician and they are no longer nurses. They are medical providers.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

The last thing we need is more title confusion.

Although the role of an NP is obviously different to that of a standard RN, our RN license is what forms the base of our knowledge, and where we build from. I'm proud to be a nurse and it bothers me when people try to shun the name "nurse" as if it's some sort of plague. Some of you antagonists realize that nursing isn't all bedpans and pill pushing right?

If people are confused by the name, explain it to them. As nurses we are exceptional educators, which helps set us apart from other providers. Better yet, provide exceptional primary care to them, better than that of other providers in different disciplines. That will easily solve the problem.

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I can see where there may be some confusion with the name NP...but as mentioned before, an explanation of the role should clear that up. I am interested in hearing about how you find the term "nurse" to be demeaning to the practice.

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Are you a NP???? NPs DONT practice nursing. They incorporate their nursing skills into an advanced pratice level, but they diagnose, prescribe, order exams, etc. Nurses DONT diagnose, prescribe, order exams, etc, so NPs don't practice nursing. They practice MEDICINE. They have a sick pt, they get history, order examinations, diagnose, order medications, follow ups, etc. It takes many years of education to become a NP. First 4 years to become a RN, and then 5 years of ACUTE care experience to finally be accepted into a NP school. And then 2 more years of advanced practice. Research has shown that their care is equivalent or even better than MDs. However, MDs, NPs, PAs are all outstanding professionals.

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agreed, Abe. Because NPs technically practice "nursing" (and NOT "medicine"), NPs have managed to really set the tone and control their own field and future, as opposed to PAs.

Are you a NP???? NPs DONT practice nursing. They incorporate their nursing skills into an advanced pratice level, but they diagnose, prescribe, order exams, etc. Nurses DONT diagnose, prescribe, order exams, etc, so NPs don't practice nursing. They practice MEDICINE. They have a sick pt, they get history, order examinations, diagnose, order medications, follow ups, etc. It takes many years of education to become a NP. First 4 years to become a RN, and then 5 years of ACUTE care experience to finally be accepted into a NP school. And then 2 more years of advanced practice. Research has shown that their care is equivalent or even better than MDs. However, MDs, NPs, PAs are all outstanding professionals.

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The term "nurse" when attached to an advanced role designation such as "anesthetist" or "practitioner" adds an undeniable gravitas to the title. Even the most hostile attending physician will grudgingly recognize with silent esteem the grizzled, battle hardened CC nurse. Only the most inexperienced, greenhorn pre-pubescentesque moron wouldn't.

The problem is not the title "nurse". It is the parent organization's slavish devotion to the "nursing process" and "nursing empowerment" and other such BS. Rank and file, boots on the ground advanced practice nurses do not consider themselves as nurses anymore and that is not at all in contradiction to the value that they bring to advanced practice as former nurses.

Further, it is the training program that, almost as a religious ritual, consumes inordinately valuable time and resources on "nursing theory" much to the impoverishment of it's students, seething with resentment, looking forward longingly to the day that they are able to cast off the charade and begin actual medical practice.

No, the term "nurse" stays....the BS must walk...

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Research has shown that their care is equivalent or even better than MDs.

Please don't say that anymore...even if it is true, there's no way to really prove it. It's an apples to oranges comparison and when people say that stuff, all good intentions aside, it makes APRN's look stupid. As an APRN myself, I don't need you to defend me.

Medical school/residency and possibly fellowship is a different and non-comparable entity to nursing school, nursing experience, advanced practice training and advanced practice experience. Any attempt at comparison is delusional imho.

The APRN exists in the US as an indispensable entity for health care delivery in the best system in the world. Physicians need us and we need them. Conflicts in practice models are common but it's a process and should not be surprising or upsetting. The pie is big enough for everyone.

Militant APRN's and MD's are only screwing themselves while the rest of us practice as we choose and reap the financial and lifestyle benefits.

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I disagree with everyone on this thread. We should not remove out nursing title, however we do more than "practice" nursing. If that was the case we would do things like use herbs and not prescribe medications. I am curious if anyone can accurately describe what a nurse "practice" is? however since we DO practice medicine I think we should take the best of both worlds. Physician assistant or associate use the tile of Physician in their name. Perhaps we should do the same and legally change to Nurse Physicians. Keeping both our nursing background but allowing our patients to understand that we do actually practice medicine as well. Seems to me to hit everything that the people in this thread feel and allows us to become viewed more competently by our community. 

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ericmandragon said:

Perhaps we should do the same and legally change to Nurse Physicians. Keeping both our nursing background but allowing our patients to understand that we do actually practice medicine as well. Seems to me to hit everything that the people in this thread feel and allows us to become viewed more competently by our community. 

Well, since a 7 year old discussion is revived, I'll bite:

NO. Just no. Count me out.

Besides someone already beat you to it

https://www.facebook.com/cathopathic.physicians/

Not sure what happened to their website; I viewed it quite some time ago and it was ridiculous. In my humble opinion.

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