Does anyone know, or know of anyone who's gone to medical school after becomming a NP? DO or MD?
What was their speciality that they saught after medical school?
What are your thoughts on the whole matter?
Although I absolutely LOVE being a NP, lately medical school has been comming to mind. My wife and I will likely move from our small town to a much larger city and this will greatly restrict my practice as a NP. Very unlikely I could do Family Medicine and have admitting privilages or do anything in the hospital, unless I was an employee of the hospital and did ONLY hospital work.
The doc I work with has also spoken of making the move to the larger city and has pondered the idea of doing another residency in a more specialized field. Frankly, if I DID go back to medical school, I would probably residency in Ob/Gyn. I would also ONLY consider a DO program.
The biggest problem I have with advancing is it would seem like I am abdoning everything I am about. I have faught so hard to advance Np's in my area and based alot of my arguments on the fact that NP's are just a trained and knowledage as a physician. Then, there's the whole idea that I could be a stronger advocate for NP's as a "Doctor". Confusing isn't it?
Please don't take this as anything negative towards NPs. I am, and always will be a NP. It's just that in the end... I wonder if I might could be more. (And I'm not sure that being more, would be a good thing... this is just something that is crossing my mind).
You comments are greatly appreciated!
Dave, future DO ? (doesn't that just sound weird )
I have faught so hard to advance Np's in my area and based alot of my arguments on the fact that NP's are just a trained and knowledage as a physician.
Thats not true. NPs CAN NOT totally replace MDs, which is what you are implying with your "trained just as good" comment. MD/DO are still the gold standard of medicine, which means that if somehow you could replace all MDs with NPs, healthcare would suffer greatly. NPs cant replace surgeons, endocrinologists, radiologists, cardiologists, and all the medical specialties NPs have their role as independent practioners in some primary care environments. But thats DIFFERENT than saying that NPs are trained the same as all MD/DOs.
As I said, NPs and MDs are both important healthcare practioners. MDs have 4 years of college, 4 years of med school and 3-7 years of residency, whereas NPs have 4 years of college and a 2 years masters program.
To pretend that thats equivalent training is laughable. If it were equivalent, you'd see NPs as surgeons, or working as radiologists, or on the chief of staff at a major hospital.
There's not a bit of difference between the two. Ask a patient, they'll tell you they like the FNP better.
FNP's CAN replace MD's in Family Medicine. I honestly think some day we will not have PCP's, but PCNP as the "gold standard".
If you disagree, fine. So be it. You're arguement will just be falling on deaf ears.
David Adams, ARNP
RN-MSN
ACNP
FNP
Thats not true. NPs CAN NOT totally replace MDs, which is what you are implying with your "trained just as good" comment. MD/DO are still the gold standard of medicine, which means that if somehow you could replace all MDs with NPs, healthcare would suffer greatly. NPs cant replace surgeons, endocrinologists, radiologists, cardiologists, and all the medical specialties NPs have their role as independent practioners in some primary care environments. But thats DIFFERENT than saying that NPs are trained the same as all MD/DOs.
As I said, NPs and MDs are both important healthcare practioners. MDs have 4 years of college, 4 years of med school and 3-7 years of residency, whereas NPs have 4 years of college and a 2 years masters program.
To pretend that thats equivalent training is laughable. If it were equivalent, you'd see NPs as surgeons, or working as radiologists, or on the chief of staff at a major hospital.
I see the SDN crowd is up to its usual sophomoric behavior. I'm so glad there is at least one constant in these uncertain times.
Dave: Well knock me over with a feather! I sure didn't think I would hear this from you. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that I am a bit surprised.
If it is what you really want, and money is no object, then do it. You will be a strong advocate for nurses no matter what your decision.
The outspoken, don't tell ME that I can't do that NP has been thinking about medical school.
The urge is actually really starting to wane. I adore primary care and practicing pain mgmt in it. Going to medical school for primary care would just teach me another view of the same thigns I already know. If I do go to medical school, it will either be to do a residency in GAS, or PM&R, ofcourse fellowshiping in Pain.
-Dave
I see the SDN crowd is up to its usual sophomoric behavior. I'm so glad there is at least one constant in these uncertain times.
Dave: Well knock me over with a feather! I sure didn't think I would hear this from you. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that I am a bit surprised.
If it is what you really want, and money is no object, then do it. You will be a strong advocate for nurses no matter what your decision.
Again, nothing is served by arguing and delivering personally derisive remarks. The medical and nursing professions are separate and distinct and despite the fact that NPs may be able to perform some functions similar to physicians, they possess less training and their education is based upon a nursing holistic model. Patients may prefer an NP to an MD based upon their own personal experiences, they may not understand the difference between the two, they may place more importance on having a provider that spends time with them, etc. Many people, however, would prefer both someone with the education of a physician and one who is genuinely caring with his/her patients. The most important caveat(s) are to operate within one's scope of practice, be competent and know when to obtain the services of others within the healthcare system, and to respect one another as professionals.
Do what you feel is right for you. It is never to late to go back to school if that is what you want.
I'm sick of the immature posters who flame with statements of MD's are better than NP's crap. There is a place for both in medical care. The truth of the matter is that a well trained NP is perfectly capable of taking care of the things a FP Doc takes care of. IF these FP Docs had any sense they would hire NP's for their office and increase the number of patients served in their area!
Let us not forget that it is the patient that really matters!
)
manna, BSN, RN
2,038 Posts
kind of makes for a thread killer! lol