thats absurd

NP's have considerably shorter and less intense training than physicians... so you can probably assume they'd have to have a very, very defensible position with concrete evidence to "overrule" a physician. The difference is years and breadth and depth of schooling and training. In some states, they can do the same things, yes.. But that doesn't mean NP's = physicians. And oh yes, I very much include DNP's when I say "NP's." Please don't say you're considering becoming an NP to wield "power".

Riiiight, good luck waiting on that to happen!

That is referred to as an anecdote and has no bearing on anything. Let me drop another example for you: "I know, personally, that I can fly. I've seen myself do it." Does this mean I can fly? Does it mean anything at all? No. The fact that you personally think nurses are better providers means nothing and proves nothing. And please... my credentials? Credentials don't validate or invalidate any argument; its the argument's substance that matters. Would you believe the world is flat if a Ph.D told you it was? Was there something wrong with what I said? You brought up my favorite argument! Medical doctors are taught repeatedly how to view the patient holistically (note how I spell that) and how to integrate psychosocial findings into patient history. The fact that you haven't seen a medical doctor do this is surprising. Further, I don't understand when/how/why the nursing field decided that they are the only profession that "cares" about their patients and view their care as holistic. Please, explain this. Let me give you the facts one more time. Fact: There is a strictly prescribed set of standards set forth by the National Board of Medical Examiners that defines exactly what a physician (MD/DO) must know. These are tested repeatedly with the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK/CS, and Step 3. They're often re-tested by state medical boards over certain intervals. Fact: Nurses, even DNP's, are not required to know a majority of these standards by graduation, especially the science-oriented and molecular disciplines. A career filled with years of experience won't compensate for the lack of fundamental understanding, either. For instance, the first time the Columbia DNP class was offered a simplified, lower minimum passing score-version of the USMLE Step 3, 50% of them failed the test. MD pass rate is ~99% for first-time test takers. Google this, it's common knowledge. It might help to explain that the first DNP class through Columbia were not the direct-admission DNP students we see so commonly today; these were seasoned Master's-prepared nurse practitioners. How can I be more clear? Without going to medical school like every other physician, please tell me exactly how you think nurses plan to "bridge" (we all know the elephant in the room is "shortcut") their way into a medical doctorate. If you want to put in the time, the dedication, and the effort to obtain an MD degree, please... be my guest. There are a number of nurses who have done this. They changed professions and entered medical school like every other physician. Look, we all understand primary care is stretched thin... but why is a shortcut the solution? Why lower the bar?

These programs will NOT "sprout" up in no time, it's doubtful they ever will. The State Medical Boards will set their offices on fire before this happens. Google the PA/DO bridge - the PA's have depths more basic science background than NPs yet it took years to iron out a program that really only saves the PA's one year of training - they still attend the first two years of med school (full time, mind you, part-time nor remote/online medical study does not exist) and have slighty shorter clinical years. The result is ~3 years of school (vs. 4) + the full, ACGME-accredited residency. I believe even then they're restricted to a family practice residency (3 years). PA's are required to have years of experience before they take this program, and entrance is ultra-competitive... and still requires the MCAT. And this is for a DO. Do the math, and this is NOT a shortcut at all for PA's, it actually takes them significantly longer than students who go straight out of undergraduate. There will similarly be no shortcut for nurses wanting to make the transition. If you want to be an MD, you have to play the game and go to medical school like everyone else. Please... oh please, explain how nurses make 'better' doctors for us? Is it because you 'care' more? Because nurses 'look at the whole patient'?

Offensive? Now you have an idea how physicians feel when nurses (read: DNP's) refer to themselves as "doctor".

Now come on, don't be exaggerating to this poor guy: OP - in general, nurses will tell you that they went through the hardest education, they know it all, and that they work THE #1 stressful job in the hospital. The truth is, they take a lot of flak from the people and families they treat, but that's the job. You are the face of the hospital to your patients when you're a nurse. You're a busy person that carries out orders and fills out paperwork. You do little more than that despite what nurses will tell you. You'll be hearing a lot of "nursing school is incredibly hard", "nurses have to take all the sciences", and that their school's are difficult to get into. Fail. Contrary to opinions you'll find here, the education is not that difficult if you're not a complete idiot (a B average in high school, like you, could easily pull it off). Try working in a hospital and watch first hand what they do. And don't fall into the volunteer trap - volunteers do remarkably little in most hospitals and you won't get a real feel of what it's like. Work as a transporter or CNA.

BSN students have to take a full year of inorganic chemistry, a full year of organic chemistry, a full year of physics, a full year of biology, and at least a semester of biochemistry.. all with labs? Not to mention the requirements that some medical schools demand like genetics and ecology? I wouldn't go that far...

Actually.. the Doc was absolutely right. We have bacteria ALL over us, in us, everywhere.. It doesn't become an infection until it outmatches our immune system or accesses a cavity or area where our immune system is less effective or ineffective. Resistant strains are, maybe surprisingly, extremely common as well. They just don't make the headlines until they break past the skin or dive into the blood. Ask a microbiologist. I worked with two others on a study that looked for resistant S. Aureus in places you might not expect: grocery stores, a drug store, and even a Jack in the Box. Guess what? Oxicillin-resistant strains confirmed in all three of those places and more. It's everywhere.. even on your "clean" table at Jack in the Box.