is being an NP in IL really that bad?

I live well enough South of 'The City', and we have quite a few NP's around here.

SueB

I just don't understand, don't NPs lower the cost for the healthcare system?

Let me enlighten you. The NP's take business from doctors. Are you in favor of LPN's and CNA's doing the work of RN's?

Let me enlighten you. The NP's take business from doctors. Are you in favor of LPN's and CNA's doing the work of RN's?

I wouldn't want my job to be threatened but w/ the nursing shortage I would definitely be in favor of CNAs & LPNs doing jobs they are trained for. Isn't that what CNAs do? They do some of the basic stuff that RNs can do but are there to help out w/ better healthcare delivery? My professor said there's a shortage of family practice docs (that's why my friend in med school got a full ride-she wants to be a fam doc). Don't NPs help in that they take care of some of the more "basic" stuff docs can do???

I'm definitely not attacking your post. I completely understand what you're saying. I guess I'm just figuring out the if this than why not that's of the limited knowledge I know about this topic. Just trying to sort it out. Thanks for your perspective (honestly!...ugh, I hate how posting/emails can be easily misread b/c of the lack of non-verb comm! I feel like it seems that i'm rebuttling your post when I'm not).

I've had a few docs that drilled w/ me in the navy tell me they love NPs & that there should be more of them. That was nice to hear from them.

One more Q on NPs----- what is the difference in the scope of an NP & a family doc???? I heard that NPs can only prescribe certain meds. Thanks guys!

I live well enough South of 'The City', and we have quite a few NP's around here.

SueB

About how far of a drive from the city??? Are we talking right south of I-80 or closer to kankakee???? Don't worry about answering if you think that's too much info.

It is true that NP's in IL have had a long journey to gain some of the privileges that were granted much earlier to NP's in other states, such as prescriptive authority and the ability to sign physical forms.

I worked with some pioneering NP's over 20 years ago at Rush, and have recently been in contact with NP's in our doctors' offices (in the Joliet area). They all seemed satisfied with their work, and respected by the physicians and nurses whith whom they work, but have had a long battle to gain some practice privileges that NP's elsewhere were granted long ago. I have no doubt that may be due, at least in part, to the AMA presence in the State of IL.

I have worked with NP's who provided primary care to NICU and PICU patients, carried a patient load in physicians' offices (OB/GYN and PEDS), managed and staffed well-patient and vaccine clinics in county health departments and college health services, taught in BSN programs, and managed the in-patient care of psych patients. I'm sure this is just a short list of the many possibilities that exist for NP graduates.

If this avenue of practice truly interests you, I hope you will not be deterred by the AMA!

It is true that NP's in IL have had a long journey to gain some of the privileges that were granted much earlier to NP's in other states, such as prescriptive authority and the ability to sign physical forms.

I worked with some pioneering NP's over 20 years ago at Rush, and have recently been in contact with NP's in our doctors' offices (in the Joliet area). They all seemed satisfied with their work, and respected by the physicians and nurses whith whom they work, but have had a long battle to gain some practice privileges that NP's elsewhere were granted long ago. I have no doubt that may be due, at least in part, to the AMA presence in the State of IL.

I have worked with NP's who provided primary care to NICU and PICU patients, carried a patient load in physicians' offices (OB/GYN and PEDS), managed and staffed well-patient and vaccine clinics in county health departments and college health services, taught in BSN programs, and managed the in-patient care of psych patients. I'm sure this is just a short list of the many possibilities that exist for NP graduates.

If this avenue of practice truly interests you, I hope you will not be deterred by the AMA!

thanks! I'm actually not really sure what I will ultimately end up pursuing. I just started my bsn nursc classes last wk, so I still have 2 yrs til I become an RN. And I know I want to work a few yrs as a RN before considering going for my masters. Nonetheless, I love learning about all the nursing options out there! Becoming a NP is a really big option in the far future. I might as well learn as much now to prepare me for what could possibly become my career.

I wouldn't want my job to be threatened but w/ the nursing shortage I would definitely be in favor of CNAs & LPNs doing jobs they are trained for. Isn't that what CNAs do? They do some of the basic stuff that RNs can do but are there to help out w/ better healthcare delivery?

o.k you are not quite getting this. You are in favor of CNA's and LPN's taking over some of the "basic" nursing duties because of the nursing shortage. So let me ask you this: What happens when the nursing shortage is over?

o.k you are not quite getting this. You are in favor of CNA's and LPN's taking over some of the "basic" nursing duties because of the nursing shortage. So let me ask you this: What happens when the nursing shortage is over?

Hello,

It may be possible that it isn't the op that is misugided here.

Scopes of practice are different for doctors, for N.P.s, for R.N.s for LPNs and for CNAs. What you are suggesting is misinformed, to put it mildly.

Gen

the original discussion was "why would the AMA not be in favor of NP's" and what is trying to be shown is the AMA (as representing MD's) fears losing ground in its MD territory just as RN's fear losing ground in nursing territory. Different scopes of practice among all, true, but the nursing shortage brings up the question why not just increase the scope of practice of LPN's and CNA's. So we can have "aides" that hand out medication because we all know what is the big deal about handing out a pill?

otherwise, maybe you can share why the AMA balks at NP's? I am interested in your slant on it.

While I do feel that APN's can function autonomously, it is also true that we are not physicians and so are required to have a collaborative agreement.

but isn't that a state by state mandate. For example, NP's in KY are not required to have a collaborative agreement.

So would it be a fair conclusion to draw that the reason why IL AMA/physicians don't want independent practice for NP's is because it would be competitive to their own patient market...