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Discussion

Do you (Active NP's) feel respected by MD's/DO's/PA'S

Hi all. I am in my second semester of an FNP program. I have worked around many many NP's during my RN career and never noticed them being treated differently among providers. As I have looked into the "climate" regarding NP practice, I have noted this strongly negative view being spewed from physicians and their advocacy groups. These usually regard the lack of training and safety issues with NP's (always without evidence-based research to support the claims) as reasons to discredit practice.

My question for you working NP's: do you feel respected in your profession? Do you feel like you are allowed to work within the full scope of you knowledge? Thanks in advance!

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    • Expert

    No problems whatsoever. Yes I feel very respected. And no offense but why would PAs not respect us? In my practice, the NPs, PAs all do the same thing.

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    • Admin

    Personally, I have no issues with physicians (MD/DO) or other fellow APRNs including PAs. There is mutual respect.

    I think the majority of disrespect that I've witnessed is pretty much online. I ignore 99.99% of that. :)

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    • Guides

    I've worked in teaching hospitals in all my years as a nurse practitioner thus far. As such, I've dealt with different providers from physicians to PA's to other NP's. I've also worked with medical students as well as physicians who are residents and fellows. The prevailing climate in my experience is that everyone knows what a nurse practitioner is. Yes, there are times when you sense a bit of jealousy from medical students and residents but in every situation, there is always respect for each profession. For the most part you hear things like "you guys chose wisely because you get to play doctor with such a short educational path", or "you guys make that much money? wow!". One must also realize that a certain level of respect is earned and one way is to prove to physician counterparts that we are also knowledgeable and competent in the respective specialties we are involved in.

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    Last ED I worked in ran with NP and PA staff, PA or NP ran immediate care area, and PA or NP worked the ED side. They rotated from ED to Immediate care. Both were pretty hard core and had the respect of everyone.

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    I feel very respected and appreciated in my division. In my hospital, there are some divisions that are not as good as mine is about encouraging independant practice and utilizing us appropriately. Mine is excellent and I feel very supported and respected.

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    • Guides

    No issues.

    Remember that respect is also both earned and related to the respect you show others.

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    • Guides

    I've never had any issues with other medical providers, just from administrators who thought we were cheap labor.

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    In general I am respected. There are occasional MDs who don't care for NPs, but some who have seen my work have changed their minds (hurray for them keeping an open mind.)

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    • Author

    You all are GREAT! Thanks a million for the responses. This is very encouraging to hear. I try not to pay too much attention to all of the hooplah regarding this topic but ran across the American Academy of Family Physician statement about the "danger" of NP's in practice and it led into a frenzy of research about feelings of other healthcare providers in regards to the NP role. I have never in my life seen a more immature and disrespectful display!

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    • Author

    TraumaRU's: Most of what I have come across is the PA profession stating that since our training and education are similar, NP's should not be independent practitioners but require oversight by a physician.

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    • Guides
    TraumaRU's: Most of what I have come across is the PA profession stating that since our training and education are similar NP's should not be independent practitioners but require oversight by a physician.[/quote']

    I don't know if I would say our training is similar.

    We will have to see how the next few years play out. The trend is towards NP being autonomous practitioners with more states each year removing supervisory language.

    As far as my thoughts: I think PAs should also be afforded the same freedoms, but I fear they won't be. Physicians make a lot of money from NPs and PAs. I doubt they will let both of them became independent.

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    I never had any problem with the psychiatrists with whom I practiced. In fact, they trusted my judgement with decisions that I was supposed to review with them, e.g. hospitalizations. ("Just write up the patient, put him in an ambulance and send him/her over -- we trust your judgement, " they said. -- These are real words that I heard repeatedly from ER psychiatrists in the system in which I practiced.) If I had problems of any kind they regrettably came from staff level RN's and from the nursing administration whose jealous collective thinking seemed to be in the 1950s and who thought that the only place for an RN was at the bedside!

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