Is a NP also a " Physician?"

jlcole45 · Apr 7, 2009

Virginia Henderson (nursing theorist) promotes the idea of nurses being the primary care

provider. I only know this because of nursing theory this semester and she was the only theorist with whom I could even remotely understand!

The reason I mention this is because it addresses the idea of nurses taking over (or one might argue back) the role of primary care provider.

CRNA2BKY · Apr 7, 2009

No, a NP is NOT a physician. A physician is a graduate from a medical school, and holds either an MD or a DO degree. The patient who said that their NP is a physician is absolutely mistaken! Patients do not always understand who is treating them, and what their degrees or training is.

JDCitizen · Apr 7, 2009

phy-si-cian

Pronunciation:

\fə-ˈzi-shən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English phisicien, fisicien, from Anglo-French, from phisique medicine

Date:

13th century

1: a person skilled in the art of healing ; specifically : one educated, clinically experienced, and licensed to practice medicine as usually distinguished from surgery

2: one exerting a remedial or salutary influence

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

IMO, NPs are usually better than physicians- they spend more time w/ pts, and are more thoughtful and thorough. They are not so apt to just throw a script at you and run off to the next pt.

They don't have the title "Dr." in front of their names or the letters "MD" behind their names. These titles automatically earn a person respect and admiration. NPs have to perform to earn respect- and so they do.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

I am just wondering because I was reading this article in Reader's Digest about how a lot of people are switching over to using NPs for their care. The article quoted a patient saying, "my NP is my physician."

The patient was misinformed or speaking metaphorically. The patient should have said "my NP is my healthcare provider".

morte, LPN, LVN · Apr 7, 2009

from what i gather this is a common issue for NPs and PAs......and they certainly CAN be pcps.....

JDCitizen · Apr 8, 2009

Hmmm further thought:

1) Was the patient mistaken in terminology?

2) Was the patient trying to give his/her provider a compliment?

3) Was the patient according to definition above recognizing his/her provider as being a person skilled in the art of healing and so the terminology could be correct?

Is it all semantics and the argument of being called doctor for DNPs etc comes back into play….

VivaRN · Apr 8, 2009

We're NOT physicians, but we do a lot of the same things, and as another poster pointed out pts don't always make the distinction. A lot of the NP's in my clinic get called Dr. X by the patients - although they know we're NP's.

It's just how some pts refer to the person who cares for them, or they see comparing us to physicians as a way of showing respect.

Jo Dirt · Apr 8, 2009

We're NOT physicians, but we do a lot of the same things, and as another poster pointed out pts don't always make the distinction. A lot of the NP's in my clinic get called Dr. X by the patients - although they know we're NP's.
It's just how some pts refer to the person who cares for them, or they see comparing us to physicians as a way of showing respect.

Showing respect or attempting to humor NPs with a token title?

It goes to show how you can't necessarily take everything you read to heart, just because it is a large publication. I see the definition of a physician does not specify "MD", but is it a protected title?

kanzi monkey · Apr 8, 2009

The responses to this discussion surprise me. NPs have significantly different educational backgrounds, and while both MDs and NPs are technically practicing medicine, the broad medical background of an MD is usually greater than that of an NP by virtue of the fact that years of residency are required for a medical license, and this is not so for an NP or PA. In my state it is required that I collaborate with a physician in whatever practice I choose--the guidelines for collaboration are set by the MD and NP, but there are certain terms that are legally defined.

I know I'm new, and timid as I prepare to sit for my NP board exam, so I don't mean to sound presumptuous or ruffle any feathers--but from my experience (and how I've seen MDs and NPs collaborate) most NPs and MDs appreciate working together and can learn from each other--and MDs can provide significant support to the NP (and vice versa, of course)

-Kan

zenman · Apr 8, 2009

I am just wondering because I was reading this article in Reader's Digest about how a lot of people are switching over to using NPs for their care. The article quoted a patient saying, "my NP is my physician."

This is actually quite simple. I see them as saying "my NP is my 'physician'"

Any questions?