Medical Care Practitioner

[jjjez]

Just read in the Nursing TImes that the government is planning to introduce 'ER style' physicians assistants to the UK. This will involve a MAsters degree.. Apparently the DoH feels there is a niche for thisw kinfd of role, but does anyone think that this is a waste of time oney and resources considering that PA's were introduced;

A) To get men into a nursing style role without the personal care.

B) To get men into healthcare within the armed forces

C) To dilute the medical profession in a similar (but not) way like Nurses and Nursing Assistants?

Apparently th erole will include taking histories, physicals and managingand treating CERTAIN illnesses and posibly referrals. But why bother when the government announced that these were the things that nurses would be doing tin the future?

Personally i feel that we have a lack of people to do the caring.

Plus why do we have to use bizarre terms like Medical Care Practitioners (the term they are choosing) to name this new 'profession?

I don't think this is the way forwards. I think this is advanced nursing without the dirty side.

Any thoughts????

[karenG]

what do I think..............?

you really dont want to start me on this one!!

its basically a nurse practitioner but one who is controlled by a doctor and is paid 45k.

take a look at the competencies and compare them with the RCN NP competencies........ not much difference between the two.

and yes... the NP's I know are writing and being political about this new role.. if nothing else.. wont they have to pay us more? afc and all that!

seems to be a bright idea... with no research to see what roles already exist..

Karen

[wembley1]

medical care practitioners are in line with the use of physician assistants in the usa.In some ways i see the introduction of MCP's as a waste of time,as from the job role they will perform in the uk,it is very similar to what a nurse practitioner already does.However,to become an NP you either have to self-fund or find an employer to sponsor you,not,to mention having an appropriate work environment,in comparison,these MCP positions will be new paid positions,around 30k whilst training,and training will take up to 2 years,depending on knowledge and skills.As mentioned,MCP's are already in practice in manchester,some of these are american trained PA's and trials are being conducted on them and there job role,but,they are being paid around 45k,most np's sit around 25-35k depending on location.I think more advanced job roles are needed that allow nurses to use and develop skills,however these need to be appropriately paid.I think it is a joke that a MCP can come along,the minimum requirement being a science degree or similar and they can earn more than a NP who has been working for 10+ years.I for one though,would consider becoming an MCP as the pay and conditions will be better than being an np,and training will be paid for.i personally think nurse have been short changed on AFC,you explain to me how 1 nurse can get a pay cut for doing the same job they have being doing for years,under AFC in 1 trust whilst another nurse doing the exact same job with the exact same skills and experience gets a pay rise in another trust.i think AFC stands for AGENDA FOR CHEATING,that is cheating nurses into thinking wage wise they are better off.maybe if nurses stood up more and pushed for better wages and conditions,there would be more nurses and more people interested in nursing and roles such as MCP's would not be required if NP's were paid more appropriately.I believe NP's,for the job they do,should be paid equivalent to nurse consultants,that is 45-60k.doubt that will happen.......