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Poll: Nurse Practitioners and Primary Care
Poll: Will nurse practitioners help solve the primary care shortage?
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Posted about 4 years ago The primary care shortage has been making headlines lately, and one of the solutions is to increase the number of nurse practitioners and physician assistants caring for patients. Many nursing schools and organizations are pushing for the Doctorate of Nursing degree to be fully recognized by MDs and the rest of the healthcare community. Currently, over 200 nursing schools offer this relatively new degree. Many doctors, however, don't like the idea of "Doctor Nurses." They believe it might confuse patients and some think that doctors are threatened. What do you think? Will nurse practitioners help resolve the primary care shortage? What do you think of the Doctorate of Nursing degree? |
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| Posted about 4 years ago
NPs have for many years filled a void and in most cases NPs will work where no MD or DO will. e.g. NPs are usually more willing to go to rural areas than MDs or DOs. Any nurse with an advanced degree should not mislead any patient into thinking that they are an MD or a DO. If you introduce yourself by your earned title of Doctor, you need to say “I am Dr. Jones, I am a nurse practitioner. I think this title thing is no different than the discussion that we had on here earlier about not calling yourself a nurse if you are not a nurse. The DNP program fills a need. I see nothing wrong with using the title of DR. if you use it in the correct setting and do not mislead anyone. I have witnessed the a NP with a PhD in education consistently introduce herself as “Doctor” to patients and staff. This is not right. |
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| Posted about 4 years ago CDNURSE, I completely agree. You hit the nail on the head. Even while some NPs may end up specializing in one area, those that enter primary care will be able to fill the gaps that exist where primary care docs have left for other positions. If a nurse with a doctorate introduces herself in the way you describe, I see no problem at all. I think that having highly qualified caregivers is what is important. Plus, nurses do coordinated care in a way doctors don't. There is more to medicine that a diagnosis, and I think NPs represent that. |
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| Posted about 4 years ago p.s. I do not think that doctors feel a "threat" from DNPs. Docs still have far more edcation. |
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| Posted about 4 years ago That is my goal to be a PA. I got to get close to the student PA when I worked ER. She said I had a good bedside manner and I should go for it. Being afraid gets you nowhere. So, I am going to go for it. Yes, they make a great difference, and I don't think docs are threatened by them at all. They help out way too much to be threatening. It actually can take some of the stress off the docs seeing so many patients. A good man loves other. A better man loves God. A great man loves God and lives well among others! I miss you daddy!
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| Posted about 4 years ago To be honest, I would rather see a NP instead of Dr. NP's seem to listen more. I request my children to see the NP at my Peds office and at my GP's. |
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| Posted about 4 years ago I am a nurse practitioner in a rural health office and I was the primary caregiver until one of the doctors came up to help out a couple of days a week. I think that we are already filling the gap in primary care and the insurance companies should get on the ball and realize it. I'm tired of being an invisible provider. www.arnp.blogspot.com www.npplace.com Pop over and give me some love! |
