Do physician attitudes online against NPs reflect real life?

Specialties NP

Published

Is it just me or does there seem to be a lot of media focusing on hatred of NPs? Here's a really recent one:

Nurses Masquerading as Doctors FOXNews.com

People can believe what they want to believe, but cycling through the comments of that story (and comments on SDN) I can't help but wonder what the real world professional relationship of MDs/DOs/PAs with NPs must be. If the work environment is any reflection of what people are posting online, how can anyone get along at work if people are secretly harboring these feelings of animosity?

I am hoping that the internet is just attracting individuals with the most grudges and not a real reflection of any underlying feelings that a majority (or even a large minority!) of physicians may have...please tell me this is true!

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Well, my psychiatrist preceptor likes me :smokin:

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my wife works with 2 doctors and over the course of the last 5 years they also have become friends. we go swimming at one of their houses etc.......well both of them are very much against np's and her is why.

they feel like they have to babysit and it's just easier to see the patient yourself or bring in another dr. one of them states "if i hire another dr. we don't have to worry about anything it's his malpractice, his call, his schooling, he is his own dr. i know what he has been taught in a nutshell, i know how hard it is vs a np that we are liable, we feel it's more generic, you can get the degree online, for me i have to check and make sure everything is right and for me it's just not worth it"

this one dr. has told my wife if you want to practice medicine go to med school become a dr. of course that isn't practical at this time in our life and won't be unfortunately.

this is dumbed down alot and my wife understands, but also feels the opposite since she knows dr.'s that use np's. she says there are things dr's don't feel like or don't need to be doing annual visits for prescription refills, simple cough, flu, routine urgent care or fnp type ailments.

we'll see i'm still terribly disappointed with the pay because she makes over 75k now working m-f 50-52hrs in occ. health to think all of this school and debt to make 80k might not even be worth it, but she won't know until it's all over with.

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All the physicians in my rural area have NPs in their practices, so I'd guess they must think NPs are ok. I know that my own physician thinks v. highly of the NPs he has taken into his practice.

I do agree, though, that the proliferation of online programs in nursing is hurting our reputation with other disciplines. I'm not saying that's necessarily justified, but people in other professions are v. aware of it and skeptical. It's an easy target for people who are looking to discount advanced practice nurses ...

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I'm only in my first year and first job as an NP, but there have been no issues with the MDs I work with. We truly work as collaborative team. I hope my situation isn't the exception....

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Specializes in ER/Geriatrics.

I have never heard a doctor say a good thing about the idea of NP's...they have nothing against them personally.

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I have never heard a doctor say a good thing about the idea of NP's...

It was a physician who originally came up with the idea of the NP ...

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Specializes in ER/Geriatrics.
It was a physician who originally came up with the idea of the NP ...

I was asked for my feedback, so I gave it....why would you quote me?

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I wasn't trying to criticize you or start an argument -- just pointing out in response to your comment (hence, the quote) that there has been at least one physician who definitely liked the idea of NPs. Maybe I should have added a smiley? I apologize if I came across negatively in any way.

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Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

No. I've never seen, nor heard it in my entire nursing career.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'll go back to my opinion that you can say or do anything online. Every hear the country song Online? Its about a guy who in real life lives with his parents, is 5-3, fat, works at a pizza place, you get my drift. Anyway, when he signs on to his computer, he's 6-3, muscular, drives a cool car and is a model.

You can say what you want to say online without the repercussions that you would have in real life.

I've been an APN for 4 years, a nurse for a total of 18 years. I have worked with some physicians who felt "saddled" with me - in an ER setting. He hated it, I hated it. So..I don't work there anymore.

However, I have worked with many more physicians who appreciate what I can bring to the table and have earned their respect.

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Specializes in FNP.

My thought is - if that's the attitude online, they're somehow saying what they feel, whether they'd actually admit to it face-to-face and even if they're simply being fanned by the flames of others. The thought of that hidden attitude is scary - will they (physicians, PAs) continue to let that animosity build before the NP is discredited? I don't believe the public will allow that, but it is a bit worrisome, and I think the debate will only get more heated.

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