Expanded roles of advanced degree nurses

[Kingbandit]

usatoday.com/news/health/2010-04-16-nurse-doctors_N.htm

Cut and paste the link above. YES Today published a piece about the healthcare reform bill might lead to an expansion of advanced degree nurses role in caring for the millions of soon to be insured. The article talks about the obvious push-back they face from physicians.

I'm all for nurse getting the respect they are deserved. Physicians have historically looked down on PhD nurses as just nurses, but they have put in just as much if not more, in the classroom. Plus they are trained to look at. a patient as whole and not just treat the symptoms.

[DuluthMike]

usatoday.com/news/health/2010-04-16-nurse-doctors_N.htm

Physicians have historically looked down on PhD nurses as just nurses, but they have put in just as much if not more, in the classroom. Plus they are trained to look at. a patient as whole and not just treat the symptoms.

I cannot begin to describe how wrong you are on so many levels.

First of all, a Phd in nursing is an academic degree. I assume you are referring to the DNP degree.

Second, a DNP does not have near the didactic or clinical time as a physician. A Physician has about 17000 hours of clinical time alone. A DNP has about 700. Why are we even trying to argue equivalence? They are not the same. A Physician is a physician. A Nurse is a nurse. If you are trying to claim equivalence then the np should fall under the board of medicine's oversight as they are practicing medicine, not nursing. The np has a role, but it most certainly isn't that of replacing a physician.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Agreed and I am an advanced practice nurse!

Mid-levels work to augment and supplement physicians, we are not about replacing them.

Totally two different disciplines that when we work together, gives the pts better care!

Those that aren't mid-levels should quit stirring the pot im my opinion.

Those mid-levels that think they are equal to physicians should get over themselves.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Agreed and I am an advanced practice nurse!

Mid-levels work to augment and supplement physicians, we are not about replacing them.

Totally two different disciplines that when we work together, gives the pts better care!

Those that aren't mid-levels should quit stirring the pot im my opinion.

Those mid-levels that think they are equal to physicians should get over themselves.

As a CRNA I don't consider myself a midlevel provider. CRNAs are providers onto themselves, and don't need anesthesiologists to provide care. I don't work under a physician, and I don't augment or supplement a physician's practice. I don't consider myself a physician, but I would challenge anyone to find any valid research that states CRNA care isn't at the very least equal to care given by anesthesiologists.

[cardiacmadeline, RN]

Physicians have historically looked down on PhD nurses as just nurses, but they have put in just as much if not more, in the classroom.

Look up the curriculum for a NP program vs med school curriculum and then you will see how false this statement is.

[platon20]

Most DNP progams are online or part-time programs. Some of them require as little as 10 hours a week of "clinical" experience shadowing a nurse.

You can call yourself a "doctor" all you want, just like a dentist or psychologist does, but unless you go to medical school you will not be a physician.

[RelloydRN]

A Physician is a Physician, A Nurse is a Nurse.

Both can be Doctors, but both are different in each and every way.