Doctors vs NP's?

Nurses General Nursing

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I hate to say this but I no longer like to see the NP when I go in for a doctors visit. I have noticed that doctors are much more secure with decisions and aren't so scared to prescribe something. I have been on testosterone for several years through my family practice doctors. However, as I recently moved, I was set up to see a NP. Well instead of handling the low T issue herself she had to refer me to an endocrinologist? WTH? Over time I have noticed NP's like to pawn you off to anyone else for your matters if they can. She wanted to write a script for a psyche med though. Doesn't this require a psychiatrist if she wants to be technical? If NP's are expected to be a growing profession then this is gonna suck. GROW SOME!

Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

Just because someone is able to complete NP school and then pass boards does not make them independent thinkers. I have found many NPs that are VERY confident in their patient care and then I have known many who unfortunately for our profession...are just glorified nurses with advanced degrees. When I first started practicing in my community, I had to deal with physician ignorance. Most had NPs working FOR them, but were not seeing patients truly independently. As I continued growing my patient base, these physicians began to see me as an integral part of the health care community and IF I referred a patient to a specialist, they knew I had done everything I could for that patient but they needed more. My referrals...cardiologists for stents, caths, bypass...etc.; orthopedists for replacements; surgeons for surgery; oncologist for cancer. I have yet to refer a patient to an endocrinologist or pulmonologist.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Well instead of handling the low T issue herself she had to refer me to an endocrinologist? WTH?

There could be many reasons for this including concern for abuse, a concern for an ADR, inappropriate prescribing by prior provider(s), concern for secondary etiology, an inappropriate patient group, NP works in a restricted practice state, or perhaps the NP just didn't like you. At the end of the day you have a choice what provider you se, if you don't like one, keep shopping, but it has nothing to do with NP vs MD.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I will not be convinced a person with a degree unrelated to nursing, and no experience as an RN, should ever, ever be a practicing NP. .

Please, explain how the OPs post relates in any way to DE programs or prior RN experience...

NP's should have RN experience. No direct entry programs.

Please, explain how the OPs post relates in any way to DE programs or prior RN experience...

There could be many reasons for this including concern for abuse, a concern for an ADR, inappropriate prescribing by prior provider(s), concern for secondary etiology, an inappropriate patient group, NP works in a restricted practice state, or perhaps the NP just didn't like you. At the end of the day you have a choice what provider you se, if you don't like one, keep shopping, but it has nothing to do with NP vs MD.

A NP not liking a patient is just plain unprofessional if that's their reasoning for withholding care. I don't always like my patients but I do not make them go without. Geesh! We ALL can find reasons not to do something in life but it's the smart ones who know the reasons we can do something in life. í ½í±í ¼í¿¼í ½í±í ¼í¿¼í ½í±í ¼í¿¼

I work with several DOCTORS who refer out for everything.

Why? Because they're people. Just like NPs.

Just because you're a provider doesn't mean you know everything about everything.

Referring out in my view is a providers way of admitting they don't know everything and are connecting their patient with the provider who can give them the best care.

My husband had low t issues and his DOCTOR referred him out to a urologist because he flat it admitted he didn't know enough about it.

It's providing good care, it doesn't mean they suck or are any less of a provider than someone else.

It sounds to me like you're stirring the pot and looking for reasons to down NPs.

Maybe they didn't like your husband as someone has mentioned could be their reasoning.

I think all providers are human & personal likes or dislikes shouldn't come into play. However, I've seen it happen dozens of times at all levels of medicine. As far as meds, providers aren't a Pez Dispenser or at least they shouldn't be. The fact that one doc had somebody on X MED for years means nothing as far as weather a new provider thinks is a good idea to keep it up. In fact this faulty logic is one of the things that helped create the newly noticed but always there opioid crisis & the soon to be discovered (in my opinion) benzo crisis. Like you said low T is a part of natural aging for the male of the species. For millennium it was left untreated as a natural part of aging. Perhaps this provider just doesn't think the application of pharmaceuticals is a cure-all and often creates more problems than it solves.

There is no shortage of Pez Dispensers out there who will write a script for anything for any BS reason to include their economic benefit and just getting a patient to shut up. These providers have MD, DO, PA & CRNP behind their names

I think all providers are human & personal likes or dislikes shouldn't come into play. However, I've seen it happen dozens of times at all levels of medicine. As far as meds, providers aren't a Pez Dispenser or at least they shouldn't be. The fact that one doc had somebody on X MED for years means nothing as far as weather a new provider thinks is a good idea to keep it up. In fact this faulty logic is one of the things that helped create the newly noticed but always there opioid crisis & the soon to be discovered (in my opinion) benzo crisis. Like you said low T is a part of natural aging for the male of the species. For millennium it was left untreated as a natural part of aging. Perhaps this provider just doesn't think the application of pharmaceuticals is a cure-all and often creates more problems than it solves.

There is no shortage of Pez Dispensers out there who will write a script for anything for any BS reason to include their economic benefit and just getting a patient to shut up. These providers have MD, DO, PA & CRNP behind their names

Yes, on the benzos. So much yes.

Yeah, I think somewhere along the line we have become convinced that humans are never supposed to be in pain, anxious or even age and we have come up with meds for all the above. If I remember correctly we make up life 5% the earth's population and consume more meds than the rest of the planet combined. Are we healthier? Do we live longer? Are we even happier? Not according to the studies I've read. Besides all these meds have side effects that often cause more problems than they solve

Yeah, I think somewhere along the line we have become convinced that humans are never supposed to be in pain, anxious or even age and we have come up with meds for all the above. If I remember correctly we make up life 5% the earth's population and consume more meds than the rest of the planet combined. Are we healthier? Do we live longer? Are we even happier? Not according to the studies I've read. Besides all these meds have side effects that often cause more problems than they solve

I'm no against benzos. For some, truly the difference between panic, and not. Yes, it seems everyone is on Xanax and klonopin...and their kids are abusing them, and getting addicted.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Yeah, I think somewhere along the line we have become convinced that humans are never supposed to be in pain, anxious or even age and we have come up with meds for all the above. If I remember correctly we make up life 5% the earth's population and consume more meds than the rest of the planet combined. Are we healthier? Do we live longer? Are we even happier? Not according to the studies I've read. Besides all these meds have side effects that often cause more problems than they solve

This is a huge issue in primary care: many patients feel like there is/should be a pill for every problem and are unwilling to even listen to non-pharmacologic treatment (i.e. lifestyle interventions). There are some providers that don't take the time (or care or due diligence) and rather just give them some pills. This is why I don't rubber stamp anything that comes from previous providers.

Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.
Yeah, I think somewhere along the line we have become convinced that humans are never supposed to be in pain, anxious or even age and we have come up with meds for all the above. If I remember correctly we make up life 5% the earth's population and consume more meds than the rest of the planet combined. Are we healthier? Do we live longer? Are we even happier? Not according to the studies I've read. Besides all these meds have side effects that often cause more problems than they solve

We have become a society of instant gratification, and one that has no tolerance for discomfort. Add that to a mentality that you can and should sue if things don't turn out the way you like, and you have the circus that we deal with on a daily basis. It's not just with controlled substances; it's with antibiotics too. I've already had 2 disgruntled patients today because I won't hand out antibiotics like Halloween candy. They are just not interested in hearing that their symptoms are likely viral, and really don't care about any info I give about developing antibiotic resistance. They just want their nasal congestion or cough gone now, and feel they shouldn't have to let their illness run its course with symptomatic treatment.

One of the reasons I got out of primary care was the constant pressure from patients to prescribe instant fixes (benzos, opiates), and the pressure from management to keep the patients happy. I hate the whole customer service mentality that health care has seemingly embraced.

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