BS, NP

I mean, don't get me wrong, I think that they're practicing medicine too. If walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks, it's a duck. ok....? so, you agree that I'm practicing medicine, TOO....and since I walk like a duck....I must be a duck ( or at least one functioning in a similar role as said duck) ---this is per you...... so, I'm practicing medicine too.....but at the same time I'm not....... ok....if it makes YOU feel better.....I don't provide medical care.....I provide advanced nursing care....

so, umm.....really curious here........why are you and any of your other anti-NP cohorts on this board again....???? this is a nurse forum and an NP link within the forum........???? I don't think I've ever truly heard the handful of you who think NPs are poorly trained clinicians EVER say anything good about them.....understandably, this is a forum for freedom of thought and opinion....but why don't you go to a medical forum with your perceptions and opinions......anyhow, I'm done responding to u and your buddy 'wowza'..... NPs will continue to thrive and fluorish and be utilized for what they are capable of doing despite your take on it.......

sure....I agree...of course they should.....and I'm sure there are limitations.....once again.....I'm not saying either way.....they SHOULD or SHOULD NOT be independent with primary care.....just get a bit irritated with the one sided folks on here who go on about NPs having 1/10th the training of physicians and NPs not providing safe care......NPs not practicing medicine....wake up to reality here.....if we're not providing medical care then what do you call this....???? no, I'm not a physician, but I borrow the same functional processes in my practice and use the knowledge I've accumulated as a previous nurse and a nurse practitioner.......if a patient comes in and I gather a history, review of systems, perform a physical, formulate differential diagnoses, perform a diagnostic workup, conclude on a diagnosis, prescribe a pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic treatment for the patient.....what kind of care am I providing then....??? someone please tell me....

so, if a PhD history professor or researching scientist is in a clinical setting.....you refer to them by their first name since they are not a PHYSICIAN...?? sounds pretty disrespectful to me, Wowza.....

no, I believe you are correct....not many practicing independently........but, why do you have such a problem with this when those who have been practicing independently have shown no decline in safety and no increases in malpractice premiums....is this not evidence of good practice...?

do me a favor and don't take my quotes out of context......I was trying to have an honest and thoughtful post here......and clearly outlined some differences between NPs and physicians.......I don't appreciate your condescending remarks.....you dgenthusiast, among others never have anything positive to say about NPs.....I'm not vouching for independence.......but, clearly you don't know anything about the multitude of studies that HAVE in fact ranked NP care right up there with physicians in quality, safety and efficiency......(in PRIMARY CARE)......not sure what journals you're reading.....aside from studies.....do you work with any NPs or PAs.....what is your experience with their care?

no...it doesn't sound petty....I agree with you totally and hope I made that point.....anyone who achieves doctoral education deserves that title......just as any physician (only) who works that hard to complete medical school should be the sole carrier of the title physician.......you're right.....the only way to be a physician is to go to med school.....

I have to also throw my hand in on this one.....yes.....there are alot of students who seem to have lived the experience of medicine and nursing and are a bit too overzealous with their take on reality here.......I have been an NP fora bout 7 years ....a nurse for about 10.....I personally am on the fence about what should and shouldn't be in health care for NPs at the moment....however, I will make it clear....while I feel capable and good at handling most common acute and chronic medical problems.......allopathic and osteopathic physicians sure put a hell of alot more time into the books and with patients.....bottom line......I'm fine with the nearly independent practice I am doing now with a nice experienced physician to collaborate with if need be.......

wow....there are some well-informed folks on here.....yeah...no one should be downplaying another profession......that doesn't help.....I think it is truly a semantic debate here....be it DOCTOR is a professional title but we all know a euphymysm for a medical caregiver.......who here has not been called 'doc' by your patients???...but....who should be called physicians?? some seem to think we should.....well, if we're arguing for rights as advanced practice nurses why would we WANT to be called a physician....we have to be careful what we are asking for here....it is becoming a slippery slope.....we may lose the support of those who are well established and on our sides....we are NOT physicians....some NPs argue that doctors of chiropractic and optometry carry the title physician while they don't fully care for the entire patient in the same medical manner.........let the non allopathic and osteopathic practitioners of optometry and chiropractic have the title I suppose....traditionally they always have.....fighting for the same or similar RIGHTS is a different story.... I've been giving it alot of thought and really trying to see the big picture......people are getting so hung up on titles and credentials and wording and program curricula......arguing who's better a PA...an NP.....a physician...??? I used to have the theory that if you took an NP, a PA and a physician right out of school.....I think the physician is hands down more prepared, more skilled, more educated.......but, 10 years 15 years down the road....how much does experience and insight and continued learning and study develop each practitioner? could the PA end up being the brightest and most informed and best medical decision maker...?? yes, I think so....could it be the physician, the NP? sure.....doesn't it depend on all kinds of factors that take priority after education? drive? ability to integrate knowledge and medical literature? experiential and acuity exposure in practice? etc...etc..... I think the definition on this site sums it up well........ A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience in diagnosing and managing most common acute and chronic illnesses either independently or in collaboration with a physician. we just want to do what we are doing and be who we are and be rightfully recognized and legitimized for it, no??? no we don't have the same training as physicians.....could we safely take on the primary care needs of the population.......sure.....I think we could..........aren't we pretty much doing that now.....as it is....???? won't we still call on our physician and NP and PA colleagues for insight and expertise and experience when ours falls short.....???? yes...I think we will....... I guess I kind of enjoy basically being independent and still legal having an attachment to a physician who in many cases knows more than I do...... I guess I don't need to be able to say I'M INDEPENDENT to boost my ego.......while some seem to have that need..... I've heard some folks make a few decent arguments as to why dissolve of collaborative practice agreements is a good and/or founded thing......such as: a rightful move based on our experience and quality and scope of practice; would free up care for those who have independent clinics should something happen to their physician supervisor (death or move or stop practicing) I guess the facts are coming in and I'm still on the fence...... can anyone else offer other reasons for why this move is so necessary or deserved....???? thanks........

I believe I am pretty much in agreement with you....wow....there are some well-informed folks on here.....yeah...no one should be downplaying another profession......that doesn't help.....I think it is truly a semantic debate here.......who should be called physicians?? well, if we're arguing for rights as advanced practice nurses why would we WANT to be called a physician....we have to be careful what we are asking for here....it is becoming a slippery slope.....we may lose the support of those who are well established and on our sides....we are NOT physicians......let the non allopathic and osteopathic practitioners of optometry and chiropractic have the title I suppose....traditionally they always have.....fighting for the same or similar RIGHTS is a different story.... I've been giving it alot of thought and really trying to see the big picture......people are getting so hung up on titles and credentials and wording and program curricula...... I think the definition on this site sums it up well........ A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience in diagnosing and managing most common acute and chronic illnesses either independently or in collaboration with a physician. we just want to do what we are doing and be who we are and be rightfully recognized and legitimized for it, no??? no we don't have the same training as physicians.....could we safely take on the primary care needs of the population.......sure.....I think we could.....but.....aren't we pretty much doing that now.....as it is....???? won't we still call on our physician and NP and PA colleagues for insight and expertise and experience when ours falls short.....???? yes...I think we will....... I guess I kind of enjoy basically being independent and still legal having an attachment to a physician who in many cases knows more than I do...... I've heard some folks make a few decent arguments as to why dissolve collaborative practice agreements is a good and/or founded thing......such as: a rightful move based on our experience and quality and scope of practice; would free up care for those who have independent clinics should something happen to their physician supervisor (death or move or stop practicing) can anyone else offer other reasons for why this move is so necessary or deserved....???? thanks........

when I went to school back in the 90s I remember thinking it seemed like a neat gimmick at first...oh...nurses have their own diagnoses...???? until I spent any number of potentially productive minutes wasted on constructing a semi-worthless care plan that ever abundantly stated the obvious and distracted from the priority event----caring for the patient...!!!! man....if we could have spent the time we did working on care plans actually carrying out orders and caring for the patient meanwhile learning how to think proactively for the patient rather than learn about an entity that existed merely to fill up space in a fluff nursing course and sadly ---poorly attempt to legitimize nurses as autonomous...........in my experience, life proves that in order for something to prove itself.....overattempts to do so negate that outcome......if something has what it takes it needn't try THAT hard......it just does.......

where are you? I worked for an emergency medicine group and had privileges in an ER [hospital] for 3 years....they hire physicians, PAs, NPs.....in this state....NPs can pretty much work in any area a physician does except anesthesia of course......I'm an FNP by certification......so????

hmmmm....I took it in 2003......I thought the NCLEX was difficult and Board cert. was easy myself.....thought I failed the NCLEX....anyhow.....I would seriously do some intense systems review....as in go through your ENT, cardiopulmonary, gi, uro, derm, etc......patho most common illnesses, diagnostics and treatments........do alot of differential workup practice on ruling out those red flag differentials....truly the uphold and graham clinical guideline book would be a good review of common diseases and injuries.......it's so impossible to really STUDY for such a thing....you know..... hope that helps....

FNP is your best bet if you want to change around.....there is no need for example to switch from say family to cardiology to orthopedics...nor is there a requirement to recertify......it is the most versatile and a switch simply requires a group of providers willing to train you on the job so to speak in that area......I went from a couple years in family to emergency medicine for 3 and now in urgent care..... ACNP will prepare you better for more acute (obviously) inpatient problems working in the ICU/ED ...... you could go the extra mile and take the additional courses needed to certify in both....but in most programs each specialty has the same core coursework (patho/pharm/physical diagnosis) it's the clinical lectures and rotations that differ......

It's cool....sorry if I sounded like a jerk myself...