NP invisibility

[ERNP]

There are days at work where I think I have reached new levels of invisibility. I must admit there are days when I think wistfully about the pre-NP days. Days where I was reguarded as an authority on issues of my choosing and assigned projects to complete.

Perhaps this is just an anamoly but in the area where I work, one of the ER doctors has referred to my NP colleages and I as HIS nurse practitioners. We aren't HIS. He didn't hire us, he doesn't pay us, and he isn't our supervising physician (whom we don't belong to either).

So skating close to the edge that day as I was, I just jumped off the edge. Told him I wasn't his girl but if he needed to hire a girl I would see if someone could find the classifieds for him. Perhaps a suitable girl could be found above the fold.

Then the administrator came down with a new physician (ENT) and introduced him to said ER physician. I was sitting right there, I decided I must be behind some sort of invisibility cloak so I stood up, introduced myself and gave my title. Told the ENT that we saw a lot of patients that would benefit from his services and that I looked forward to working with him should he decide to join the medical staff. The administrator was looking at me like I was on fire or had sprouted a second head from the side of my neck. Picked up the next chart and said, "Why here is one now, ear pain in a 2 year old." Smiled at the dumbfounded administrator and walked off.

If that wasn't enough, one of the hospitalists was asking me what I thought about opening a clinic near where we live. Told him I thought it was a great idea because there weren't enough providers in the area. He asked me what it would take to get me to work for him.... I looked him square in the eye and told him there was no amount of money that would get me in a clinic to work for him. Went on to say if he wanted to work with me it would be a partner relationship or no relationship. To date there is no clinic and I have since decided he wouldn't make a great partner either.

Finally, the last of my haughty moves. One of the ERs I work in has whiteboards in the rooms. Every shift the nurses run around putting the doctor's name and the nurse's name on the board. I noticed that I wasn't on the board but I was seeing patients in these very rooms. I took a marker and went around adding my name and title to all the boards.

So am I just haughty or am I on to something?? What do you think? Do you ever feel invisible.

[ERNP]

I got a visit today from the marketing director of the radiology department - he wanted to know what they could do as a department to keep and/or gain the business of the NP's and PA's of the practices in the area - I was fairly blunt about it. I told him about the experiences I have been having. He was rather appalled.

So we'll see how things go...

I am always glad when someone speaks up. I am afraid I don't have a whole lot of faith in the marketers of the world. But maybe something good will come of it.

[redhen]

There are days at work where I think I have reached new levels of invisibility. I must admit there are days when I think wistfully about the pre-NP days. Days where I was reguarded as an authority on issues of my choosing and assigned projects to complete.

Perhaps this is just an anamoly but in the area where I work, one of the ER doctors has referred to my NP colleages and I as HIS nurse practitioners. We aren't HIS. He didn't hire us, he doesn't pay us, and he isn't our supervising physician (whom we don't belong to either).

So skating close to the edge that day as I was, I just jumped off the edge. Told him I wasn't his girl but if he needed to hire a girl I would see if someone could find the classifieds for him. Perhaps a suitable girl could be found above the fold.

Then the administrator came down with a new physician (ENT) and introduced him to said ER physician. I was sitting right there, I decided I must be behind some sort of invisibility cloak so I stood up, introduced myself and gave my title. Told the ENT that we saw a lot of patients that would benefit from his services and that I looked forward to working with him should he decide to join the medical staff. The administrator was looking at me like I was on fire or had sprouted a second head from the side of my neck. Picked up the next chart and said, "Why here is one now, ear pain in a 2 year old." Smiled at the dumbfounded administrator and walked off.

If that wasn't enough, one of the hospitalists was asking me what I thought about opening a clinic near where we live. Told him I thought it was a great idea because there weren't enough providers in the area. He asked me what it would take to get me to work for him.... I looked him square in the eye and told him there was no amount of money that would get me in a clinic to work for him. Went on to say if he wanted to work with me it would be a partner relationship or no relationship. To date there is no clinic and I have since decided he wouldn't make a great partner either.

Finally, the last of my haughty moves. One of the ERs I work in has whiteboards in the rooms. Every shift the nurses run around putting the doctor's name and the nurse's name on the board. I noticed that I wasn't on the board but I was seeing patients in these very rooms. I took a marker and went around adding my name and title to all the boards.

So am I just haughty or am I on to something?? What do you think? Do you ever feel invisible.

That sounds painful. I work for a private practice, but most of my time is spent rounding in the hospital. Most times when I call a physician's office for a consult I get the distict pleasure of being asked who is the physician requesting the consult. I usually say I'm requesting it : Redhen C.N.P. The speciallist we consult are fairly cordial. And, let's face it the smart ones know who spends most of her time in the hospital and act cordially- it might get them preference for consults.

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

I am in a large family practice - and actually - it's going wonderfully! The only thing I have really had an issue with is this particular radiology department at a certain hospital which just happens to be VERY convenient for a number of reasons for our patients.

They have promised to work on things and help make some improvements. This facility has very large numbers of NPs and PAs working in and near it so it seems odd that the old "rules" are still in place.

:)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hopefully you can get this straightened out quickly. The old way is just that - OLD!

[ERNP]

Most times when I call a physician's office for a consult I get the distict pleasure of being asked who is the physician requesting the consult. I usually say I'm requesting it : Redhen C.N.P. The speciallist we consult are fairly cordial. And, let's face it the smart ones know who spends most of her time in the hospital and act cordially- it might get them preference for consults.

This is exactly the kind of thing I am talking about. It's maddening sometimes.

But good for you. Perfectly logical response.