Nurse Practitioner Support by whom?

Trauma Columnist · Dec 27, 2005

Okay - I'm not a NP, but am completing a clinical nurse specialist which in the state of IL is lumped all together as Advanced Practice Nurses. Am unsure what kind of "support" you are referring to. In IL, an APN has an RN license (in good standing), as well as an APN license. The Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation is the governmental body that regulates us. However, they don't "support" us - they provide the rules. APNs in IL have a collaborative agreement with their physician-collaborator and in the contract, it spells out exactly what is expected and what procedures can be performed, etc. Does this address your question?

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 27, 2005

Not sure exactly what you mean here, button. As far as I know, unless the NP joins an organization, there is no real formal support. I mean, no union or lobby for us, at least in my state. The NP must be active in an organization in order to serve as a shaker and a mover so to speak. There is "inner" support amongst collegues/peers, but, that is gained with respect and over time.

button2cute · Dec 27, 2005

Hello, All

Yes, the post presented did answer my question. The organization who is governing the rules and over see the nurse practitioners, do the organizations or state supports the nurse practitioner profession?

As one, knows the physician assistants have support by the physicians. The physician assistants ( P.A.) are govern by the medical profession which in turns supports, lobby, and tries to improve the P.A. professtion. Therefore, the P.A.s are not standing alone and medical profession are their driving forces.

Also, the unions supports numerous nurses in several states, unions support CNAs and the unions workers within the hospitals. The unions are there for the workers during a crisises and decision makings with the administration. Therefore, the union stands by each individual worker within the organization.

I would like to know who regulates the nurse practitioner and salary, what organization/s supports the nurse profession, and fights for the profession as a whole in each state. If no one is fighting for the profession as than how does the profession survives?

Buttons

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 27, 2005

Hello, All
Yes, the post presented did answer my question. The organization who is governing the rules and over see the nurse practitioners, do the organizations or state supports the nurse practitioner profession?
As one, knows the physician assistants have support by the physicians. The physician assistants ( P.A.) are govern by the medical profession which in turns supports, lobby, and tries to improve the P.A. professtion. Therefore, the P.A.s are not standing alone and medical profession are their driving forces.
Also, the unions supports numerous nurses in several states, unions support CNAs and the unions workers within the hospitals. The unions are there for the workers during a crisises and decision makings with the administration. Therefore, the union stands by each individual worker within the organization.
I would like to know who regulates the nurse practitioner and salary, what organization/s supports the nurse profession, and fights for the profession as a whole in each state. If no one is fighting for the profession as than how does the profession survives?
Buttons

The state BON governs the rules/regulations of the NP in my state. No, they serve as law only and no political support at all.

NP organizations with sub-organizations within the state help to lobby for us.

My salary is between my employer and me. There is no board/entitity that governs what I make in any way.

mystcnurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 27, 2006

wow,

i'm glad somebody finally asked this question. in my state, if not all, the pas are governed by the board of medicine. i know many nps who are working at the bedside, because they are unable to find gainful employment as nps. when i first became an np, there were differences between nps and pas, one very important distinction was that pas were to have on site supervision, whereas an np could practice independently. that is no longer the case. the pa, does, however, continue to practice under the md's liscense, whereas the np practices under his or her own.

the continuing education, as well, is very disheartening. in order to meet pharmacology requirements, if you have not prescribed in two years, you must pay $500.00 to a certain institution if you are an np. there are no alternatives in this state, as you must have an actual transcript from a "university". i don't feel like anyone is supporting nps at this point, even ourselves. but if we were, i'm not sure we would have much ground to stand on against our state's bom. i believe the physician's really want the control that they have over pa's, as opposed to aprn's who practice from their own discipline's model, or who are at least educated to.

now, working as an rn, i make more money (especially if you count it by the hour), control my schedule, and take no work home with me. however, working in a private hospital, i have become very saddened by the lack of respect that many of the md's have for the nursing staff... i have saved many a patient from a bad outcome, but not by being a "good little nurse", but a vociferous patient advocate.

brownrice · Jun 28, 2006

Which state do you practice in? This makes a huge difference on how NP's view job satisfaction.

caldje · Jun 28, 2006

the pa, does, however, continue to practice under the md's liscense, whereas the np practices under his or her own.

actually. in most states pas get their own license and have a "supervising physician of record." so, this distinction isnt there anymore either. there are still some states that dance around the issue by "registering" pas new york is the only one i can think of though.