Doctors vs NP's?

[FrankRN2017]

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!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

My fault, Meanmary is further than a NP!

I have a DNP degree in Educational Leadership. I am not now, nor have I ever been, an advanced practice nurse.

[/username, BSN, RN]

I have a DNP degree in Educational Leadership. I am not now, nor have I ever been, an advanced practice nurse.

But you're a meany butt poopy face! How can you NOT be a NP??

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

But you're a meany butt poopy face! How can you NOT be a NP??

Years of practice! í ½í¸€

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Ha!!! Meany Butt Poopy face. Priceless!!!

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

My husband's PCP (who is a MD) has done questionable things that drive me nuts but my husband likes the guy because his office is decorated in Star Trek stuff. Sigh.

[Davey Do]

My husband's PCP (who is a MD) has done questionable things that drive me nuts but my husband likes the guy because his office is decorated in Star Trek stuff. Sigh.

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[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

That's true!!! I worked a long, long time in an ER and the fastest way to "no pills for you" was self-diagnosis, an attitude of entitlement and a belligerent attitude. Patients like that typically got to wait for hours in a crowded waiting room for little more than a referral slip, a cold bagged lunch and maybe some Tylenol for the road. I have no doubt that after doing their due diligence they found a Dr. Feel-Good of their choosing but that's both the patient's and the Pez-Dispenser's problem as it is a match made in heaven and they so richly deserve one another. The only exception to this was usually if the patient showed up with all the attitudes above and constantly reminded you that they were a nurse like a mentally deficient Parrot. They also usually didn't get pills, a bagged lunch or any other darn thing just told to go see their doc.

I must say that, overall, parrots are awfully smart creatures. At least, they generally get it pretty quickly that if the word was "no", then it was what it was and there would be no bargaining about it in the foreseeable future. (that can last 5 min., but that's another story).

[Skippingtowork]

Unnecessary consults and repeat testing wastes money. Cost effective healthcare is today's current focus right? All men experience a decrease in testosterone as they age and a general practitioner should be well past capable of handling this just as my past 2 general physicians have. Not only is this a waste of money but also an inconvenience for patients and ultimately affects patient satisfaction negatively. Furthermore, the NP was about to refill my lexapro without assuring that I was in counseling or any type of therapy but she did not. In my opinion, just refilling a psyche medication without any further supervision or therapy is much more dangerous than testosterone as lexapro in certain circumstances can cause someone to commit suicide if not properly followed or managed correctly. Also, if you do not want to be spoken to then don't post on my thread. That's the better way of deciding you don't want to be involved. Thanks! 😊

NPs usually work for a physician and do not always determine what types of care they will give. Many physician offices have policies dictating what they will and will not prescribe. An NP cannot go against the supervising physician. Many MDs do not address pain management, psychiatric medications (including ADHD meds) even for stable patients. It is best if a patient on psychiatric meds is in therapy, but not compulsary, especially when stable. Most people on those types of meds are not in therapy. As far as testosterone, there are MDs/NPs who prescribe it easily, and those who don't.

Comments regarding overprescribing and excessive referrals by NPs are worrisome. The growth of the evidence-based movement did not start because of NP practice. It is a direct result of MD practice. If you work as a bedside nurse, you will see that quite a few orders are based on lack of understanding or based on habit. Much of what we do on a daily basis in healthcare is unnecessary. This has nothing to do with NPs. Each time you go in for that Z-Pack and you leave, the doctor may be saying "the patient came and won't be happy unless I prescribe something." It has little to do with good practice.

Anyone who wants to see an MD only has the right to do so, but denigrating other professionals because of your perceptions is unfair.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Just FYI: I've been on Paxil for 14 years, and not once has anybody, MD or otherwise, suggested I get "counseling or any type of therapy."

[elkpark]

Just FYI: I've been on Paxil for 14 years, and not once has anybody, MD or otherwise, suggested I get "counseling or any type of therapy."

PCPs all over the country are prescribing antidepressants, and other, more serious psychiatric medications, every day without encouraging people to go to therapy (although psych people think that's a horrible idea), but that doesn't fit the OP's narrative, so ...

[SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN]

I largely agree with you and won't see NPs for my or my family's healthcare unless I have 0 other options. They are great NPs out there, yes, but there are far too many direct entry ones or ones that spent too few years at the bedside that I wouldn't trust with my dog..

[Farawyn]

My husband's PCP (who is a MD) has done questionable things that drive me nuts but my husband likes the guy because his office is decorated in Star Trek stuff. Sigh.