beerose

They should have all been DNP from the start. MDs have 4 years for a doctorate, no masters required to enter. Dentists have a 3 year doctorate program and no masters degree before, same for chiropractors and many others who have clinical doctorates. These DNP programs are still requiring an MSN for entrance or a longer program if you do not have one. We didn't have enough confidence when the whole NP thing started to go straight to doctorates instead of masters. We held back from calling ourselves doctors while working with MDs. Some states even had laws that forbade NP from calling themselves doctor in a clinical setting. Now that hesitancy is over, but the nursing boards are still making us pay. There should be many online 1 year DNP programs for existing ANPs to catch up. We've already done our 3 years! Let us write a thesis and be done with it.

NPs are independant practitioners, but those rights vary according to each state. Many states require no MD oversight at all. Some require it, as does California, if an NP wishes to prescribe medication or in an independant practice when the NP prescribes. We always move forward to change any laws of MD oversight. The rules can be complicated to understand, but we are not "under a doctor." This does not mean we seek to eliminate our relationship with MDs. We aim to be part of the continuim, such as when an MD refers a patient to a specialist; we refer to an MD when our diagnois and exam deems it is appropriate. Some organizations have rules about referrals and what level of care an NP performs. PAs (physicians assistants) are not independant as of now, but I believe they are working to forward this goal. PAs rules are controlled by the medical boards. NPs rules are controlled by nursing boards. Of course, nurses often need to fight the AMA, through the legislature, to give ourseves the rules we make.

Jackson's MDs sited HIPPA and kept quiet. No question Cherilyn Lee violated HIPPA. Even prior to HIPPA, she would have been violating patient confidentiality. The question is, will the nursing board take action against her? I hope they do or what good is the law. I don't believe her entire statements because they became grander with each interview. I noticed that she does not have prescription authority as part of her licensure, which explains the nutritional and holistic-only scope of her practice as listed on her business website. She attended a good school that confired both an NP and PA simulaniously (I don't think they still do that). She also has a PhD and therefore is able to advertise herself as Dr Cherilyn Lee. I'm a California NP. Our profession has fought hard to overcome certain perceptions about us. Despite her educational achievements, her unprofessional appearances made us all look bad.

Not all traditions should remain. I graduated in 1972 and was forced to wear a cap. Not just for graduation but to work everyday. Many rules surrounded those caps. Men couldn't wear them so that outcast the men with "who is a nurse"...someone in a cap. And many people wore them who were not nurses, too. They caught on bed rails and slid off slippery hair. Many bobby pins were needed. A real bother for everyday working life. I was in the group of renegade young nurses who took a stand and got send home for refusing to wear a cap. We worked hard to get away from them. Then around the 1977 people gradually stopped wearing them. You wanting to wear one now is more like dress up in my opinion. You saw them with fascination when you were a child. But if you really want a photo with one, why not do it. Do it! You'll look back one day and be glad you did. Yes, you have the right to embrace the old tradition. Buy a style you like from Kay's Caps and have a professional photo taken. Why not? You will look beautiful. Now as for pins...that is a tradition should never stop. No reason for it. Nursing pins are beautiful.