Is a NP also a " Physician?"

[Jo Dirt]

I am just wondering because I was reading this article in Reader's Digest about how a lot of people are switching over to using NPs for their care. The article quoted a patient saying, "my NP is my physician."

[menetopali]

Look at any state law. "Physician" will be defined as someone who holds either an MD or DO. Ever heard of the phrase, "It is illegal to impersonate a physician"? You can go to jail for that. I guess NP's could amend the state laws so that they are included among "physicians", but then they would be forced to be regulated by the boards of medicine because the state laws also specify that. Discussion done.

maybe in any state law - but federal law, specifically the social security act (and medicare by extension), defines "physician" a bit more broadly to include dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists - 42 U.S.C. 1395 1861®

to the OP - an NP is not a physician and a physician is not an NP. the patient may have used the colloquial 'physician' to refer to their provider, it is unlikely that either they were mistaking the professions as the patient clearly identified the NP, I think it is also unlikely that the patient was 'humoring' the NP.

this helps demonstrate two things - (1) acceptance of the NP as PCP in the public eye and (2) the need to continue to educate the public about the NP profession and that while an NP may be their 'doctor', an NP is not a physician and a while a physician may be their 'practitioner', physicians are not Nurse Practitioners.

[Jo Dirt]

Jo Dirt are you having fun with us here. With over 3000 posts you should be pretty familiar with the various titles. Last you wrote was that you were thinking of going to NP school in Arkansas.

You have changed your screen name I believe 4 or 5 times. The administration I believe has a list of all changes done. By now you have been exposed to many different job descriptions within the nursing field. I have to ask again: are you a nurse?

I think you're a stalker and harrasser and you're going to stop.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Jo,

As stated in the thread, an NP is not a physician.

There is absolutely no reason and as such, no right for an NP to refer to him/herself as a physician.

I think in this article, this patient referred to her physician in this manner out of some respect for her provider or ignorance (being uninformed).

In my career, I've been addressed in the same manner and have to redirect my patient. In some cases, it is a simple request and in other cases, the patient refuses to acknowledge me as anything but her "doctor". But, I've never been referred to as the "physician". That's a word that generally is not utilized in the Lay public. Doctor, yes.....physician, no.

I think you've received some good answers to your question and will now close this thread.