Boatswain2PA

This month's ADVANCE magazine had an article on this. In the PA world we are seeing a move toward specialization. Whether or not this is a "good" thing for the profession or the patient is arguable, but the move is afoot. It sounds like the NP wor...

I understand the argument about practicing nursing vs practicing medicine....although I do not agree that if a (real) medical doctor or PA places a central line it is considered practicing medicine, but if an AP nurse places a central line it is cons...

So, I'm curious....do you think your DNP was more "clinical-based" than MS level NP programs? Did it teach you to practice medicine (nursing) better than a MS level NP program? If so, I would like to hear how it did that. And, if it was more "clin...

Nurse Tammy - your DNP from Duke has given you the skills to create a program and a chaired position, and has taught you how to do research. If this is what you wanted to do with your career, I'm curious why you chose a DNP degree versus a degree i...

Practicing medicine means your mistakes can have dire consequences, including killing someone. Unfortunately, those who practice medicine are mere humans, which means they are imperfect and will make mistakes. Offer your profound apologies to the ch...

If you are practicing medicine....shouldn't you be regulated by the board of medicine?

Wowza has an important point that should be reiterated. These issues rarely have to do with individual NPs, but rather given roles within the heatlhcare system. Many of us believe that Doctors (physicians) should be in charge of the healthcare tea...

Jer - Thanks. The numerous RN/NP certification boards can get confusing to someone outside the profession (and, likely, to those inside as well!)

To the OP - nobody hates DNPs....but many people have a problem with Doctorate degree folks trying to pass themselves off as "Doctors" in clinical settings, with the lack of clinical experience DNP programs provide, and with the perceived goal of the...

David - this is probably a stupid question, but who awards the RNFA title? The state BON?

Thank you, and my apologies. I had recently read about Missouri being the "last state" to finally allow PAs to prescribe, and assumed it meant sked II drugs instead of III-IV.

You make a great point. The current supervisory laws do not require a great deal of supervision. And it seems like only a small step from 'bare supervision' (ie - just blindly signing charts) to unsupervised practice. However I think you are missin...

I don't know either. PAs can already prescribe sched II drugs in all 50 states, so doubt that's it (although some states have limits on quantity). And, to the best of my knowledge, there is no organized push within the PA for independent practice (...

Lineart - I don't see where anyone is denigrating NPs or nurses. We all know how important they are to the patients and to physicians. The issue here (and apparently it is verboten to stray from) is should NPs practice independently. Just because ...

Let's talk about titles for a minute, and when it is approprite to use them. I have earned many formal titles over the years: Some from organizations (Scoutmaster), a gazillion from the military (Chief, Senior Chief, boatswain, Coxswain, OIC,, et...

Nurse Tammy, The music department in my school graduates a bunch of "doctors" every year as well. But if these trumpet, trombone, and violin doctors come into my hospital or clinic and refer to themselves as "Doctor" they will be laughed at. So wil...

I'm curious, who do you feel like you need paroty with? Medical Doctors who spend 4-10 years in graduate education and average 10,000+ hours of clinical experience before they are allowed to practice independently? DPTs who have an extremely limited ...

I second the advice given about researching the different fields, and prepare for pediatrician while you are researching. Bottom line there is big difference between nursing and medicine. Nursing "cares for the patient" while medicine "seeks a cure ...

I don't have a big problem with it either. Most people need some humor injected into their everyday life. If a nurse wants to introduce themselves as a "doctor" it gives the rest of us a reason to laugh. Your last paragraph is perfect. If someone ...

For hundreds of years sick or injured patients have sought the care of a "doctor". This is not because physicians have inappropriately claimed sole use of the moniker, it is because patients GAVE it to them. Yes, there are some other professions wh...

Ellen - there are arguements because people disagree. Maybe you don't consider a DNP calling him/herself a "Doctor" enough of a problem to instigate an argument from you...but let me give you an analagous scenario which likely would: What if a LPN/...

In a word: Stupid. Just like most people who drive sports cars they can't afford, this sounds like someone who is trying to make up for something that is woefully lacking in their lives such as average intellect, a normal sized ego, a caring matern...

In a (hopefully growing) number of states you are not allowed to do that because it's against the law to present yourself as a Doctor if you are not, in fact, a real medical doctor. But, if you are in one of those states where the hospital janitor wi...