Why would people choose to go to a NURSE PRACTITIONER as opposed to a physician?

Published

i am wondering why nurse practitioners open their own practices...wouldn't majority of the population choose to go to an md?

i am interested in becoming a nurse practitioner...so i am just wondering..trying to find the common sense in that..:heartbeat

thanks!!

I also think np's give better service and are more apt to listen to

your feelings. The one I use was able to fine out I had post polio syn.

Becouse of her I found out early and am trying to stay at same level.

several doctors had failed but she did not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Some NP's are doctors. By 2015 all NP's will have to be a doctor to sit for boards.

NP's provide a holistic approach to caring for clients and families--not medical model-based, "got a problem--have a pill."

Np will need a Doctorate (DNP) by 2015 that is not the same thing as an MD! NP will not be doctors that needs to be made very clear. Many professions have doctorate degrees, I had a biology professor who was Dr.soandso and he certainly was not a medical doctor. I think that you might be confused. Doctors go through much more extensive training, internships, residency, etc than the extra year beyond a Masters degree (some times 2 yrs) it will require nurses to be a NP in 2015!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU,L and D.

At one point I wanted to become an MD. I had never thought of NP because I was not familiar with the role. I was in engineering and then a year after graduation I decided i did not like that sort of job for the rest of my life. Then after much contemplating I went to a fast track nursing Rn program. I loved nursing. Then I decided after a couple of years FNP would be cool. I love my clinical portion so far. I see the FNPs do lots of the same thing an MD does and are compensated far less. So I ask why MD versus NP. For me FNP is better because I dont want to go to school for that long. I want to just be over with studying. There seems to be more flexibility with the "FNP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

Interesting thread as I've just been thinking more and more about this topic. I am now in my senior RN-preceptorship and I'm really starting to doubt my interest in nursing, as a regular RN anyway. I have another BA degree, with all of the pre-med prerequisites completed. My concern is that if I go the NP route, I won't be able to find a job in my area, as I've heard that they are limited. I've heard this from 2 NPs and several RNs. I would absolutely hate to go for an NP and be stuck as an RN. I've been considering PA school, or even going for a DO or MD. I just don't want to have to leave my life where I live. So I'm a little torn.

The point I'm making is that I think people go the NP route often because of family obligations, time and cost of med school, and the job market. MDs also carry more responsiblity (I think) than NPs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have heard of many different figures thrown around for med school debt, and NP school debt can vary widely but should typically cost way less than a med school education. It's up to your familial and financial picture, also your age.

So if say, due to your prior credits and school tuition you'd come out owing $100k, ask yourself would you be willing to owe that amount of debt to become a NP, or MD given the big pay differences?

I know there are other factors, but with the current economy I would not recommend hastily taking on debts without knowing the return on your educational investment.

For NPs with extensive experience in specialty (for example Cardiology) who are pretty sure they'll come out and work as a highly paid Cardio NP instead of having to take a paycut or remain working as a RN, then I think NP school is a pretty good deal, wont' have to uproot yourself or family the way residents have to, and further your professional goals.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Np will need a Doctorate (DNP) by 2015 that is not the same thing as an MD! NP will not be doctors that needs to be made very clear. Many professions have doctorate degrees, I had a biology professor who was Dr.soandso and he certainly was not a medical doctor. I think that you might be confused. Doctors go through much more extensive training, internships, residency, etc than the extra year beyond a Masters degree (some times 2 yrs) it will require nurses to be a NP in 2015!

Actually, doctor is really a generic term that is supposed to describe the level of education one has in their field. A Physician (as it should be properly called) is someone who has a doctorate in medicine. This is why your biology teacher was called Dr. So and So, because he IS a doctor. He has the highest attainable degree (likely a doctorate of philosophy--PhD) in his field. That doesn't mean he is a physician (or someone who has earned an M.D.) Therefore Nurse Practitioners who have earned a DNP are doctors, not to be confused with a physician.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER; CCT.
Np will need a Doctorate (DNP) by 2015 that is not the same thing as an MD!

Correct DNP's and MD's are different. DNP is a doctor of nursing practice and MD is a medical doctor.

NP will not be doctors that needs to be made very clear.

This is incorrect. Both DNP's and MD's have clinical-based doctorates. Both, I'm sorry to inform you, are doctors of clinical-based disciplines.

Many professions have doctorate degrees, I had a biology professor who was Dr.soandso and he certainly was not a medical doctor.

Probably so, but your biology professor probably has a research-based doctorate (Ph.D.). Please research the difference between a research-based and a clinical-based doctorate degree.

I think that you might be confused. Doctors go through much more extensive training, internships, residency, etc than the extra year beyond a Masters degree (some times 2 yrs) it will require nurses to be a NP in 2015!

No, I'm not confused, but I will try to enlighten you and others who undermine the integrity of professional advancement of nursing by wrongfully implying or asserting that DNP's are not "real doctors" Please try and understand that although the DNP and MD are quite different, they are both doctorate level clinical practitioners.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Some NP's are doctors. By 2015 all NP's will have to be a doctor to sit for boards.

NP's provide a holistic approach to caring for clients and families--not medical model-based, "got a problem--have a pill."

Correct DNP's and MD's are different. DNP is a doctor of nursing practice and MD is a medical doctor.

This is incorrect. Both DNP's and MD's have clinical-based doctorates. Both, I'm sorry to inform you, are doctors of clinical-based disciplines.

Probably so, but your biology professor probably has a research-based doctorate (Ph.D.). Please research the difference between a research-based and a clinical-based doctorate degree.

No, I'm not confused, but I will try to enlighten you and others who undermine the integrity of professional advancement of nursing by wrongfully implying or asserting that DNP's are not "real doctors" Please try and understand that although the DNP and MD are quite different, they are both doctorate level clinical practitioners.

I think what livenlearn08 was trying to say is a NP is not a "doctor" in the traditional medical sense, i.e. physician. In that case, he/she would be correct; I know what you are saying and I agree with you 100% that they are both doctors from the degree aspect, just as one is with a D.Sc. or PhD.

I wonder if by making the standard educational level for NP a doctorate will do more damage than good, discouraging many from the field. Remember when PT tried to make the doctorate their standard, it had negative results and they backed off to master's. PA's considered doing the same, but backed off on the idea.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Actually, doctor is really a generic term that is supposed to describe the level of education one has in their field. A Physician (as it should be properly called) is someone who has a doctorate in medicine. This is why your biology teacher was called Dr. So and So, because he IS a doctor. He has the highest attainable degree (likely a doctorate of philosophy--PhD) in his field. That doesn't mean he is a physician (or someone who has earned an M.D.) Therefore Nurse Practitioners who have earned a DNP are doctors, not to be confused with a physician.

I understand that completely, I was trying to correct the person who said in 2015 NP will be doctors. You did it much better! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think anyone was trying to undermind you intelligence or integrity. Both will be doctors of their practice but the way you said it was "Some NP's are doctors. By 2015 all NP's will have to be a doctor to sit for boards." implied that they would be the same type of doctors, having the same scope of practice, earn the same amount of money, or be one in the same. Nurses and doctors are trained differently. Thats all I think people were trying to say, sorry if you got offended (obviously you are smart -your a nurse afterall :) ) I know that since developing the DNP that has been a hot topic as to whether the degree would confuse the public. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think a lot of the confusion is fixed by replacing "nurses are doctors" with DNP are nurses who have a clinical doctorate. The phrase "doctor" in the health care realm has specific associations that is confusing to the health care industry, patients, and practice for anyone other then a physician to be called a doctor.

There is no reason for a DNP to think he/she should be called doctor, within the health care setting, that I can think of other than ego promotion.

I love the DNP idea and the idea of a more a higher level of clinical competence through education. However, you can view many threads here, student doctor network and physician assistant forum - the DNP curriculum is not fully supported by nurses, the different school curriculum's have a huge variance and often to not have more clinical work, and the implementation of the degree itself has been rocky.

I hope it smooths itself out - as America is in need of mid-level practitioners to provide competent, holistic, and individualized health care~

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

There's been a lot of discussion about the DNP on this thread.

I'm going to ask that further discussion regarding the DNP be taken to this thread: DNP : Doctoral degree to become an NP???

Let's stay on topic here: Why would people choose to go to a NURSE PRACTITIONER as opposed to a Doctor?

Thanks!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion