Comments on: Nurse Practitioners and the “Art of Medicine”

By: Tracey

Tracey — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:22:32 +0000

I see what you are saying in your article. There is no dispute about the amount of education and training MD’s and DO’s go through. I just recently graduated, prior to that I have been exposed to MD’s who like NP’s and those who don’t. It’s their preference. Personally, I like the idea of being an NP to work with MD’s. I have a lot of respect for their knowledge and enjoy picking their brains. What I am getting from this is your concern about the care patients will be getting if healthcare turns to more NP’s as the one described in your article. Unfortunately, this could be a problem but the same goes for MD’s as well. I know that I am constantly asking questions and I can certainly handle constructive criticism (and ask for it). You can never be sure of what you are getting in a healthcare provider. As an NP I’m there to help not hinder. We have a common goal, patient care and to provide the best. We need to work together and reap the benefits.

I think the take home message here is to KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING AND WHY! With the increased demand in patient load verses care time, this can be difficult but you shouldn’t treat unless you know what and why and look at the whole picture.

Thank you for the article, it will certainly make me take an extra minute.

By: RangelMD

RangelMD — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:56:02 +0000

Bruce, it’s interesting to see how people read more in certain articles then there really is. I never based by opinion on an entire profession based on one example. That would be fallacy by sample bias. I simply used this example to raise a question, to which I still don’t have an answer.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 19 May 2010 11:13:26 +0000

I’m sorry you had this experience, but I don’t think you should base your view of a group of providers on one bad apple. I am a nurse practitioner and could point to physician errors and faulty logic just as easily. However, I understand that there is good and bad in every profession. The research speaks for itself.

I encourage you to engage with more nurse practitioners as it seems the majority of us enjoy a collaborative relationship with our physician colleagues. There are more than enough patients to go around. We can achieve the most good when we work together.

By: RangelMD

RangelMD — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:11:17 +0000

So, if an ANP already can bill on par with MDs/DOs, what would be the advantage of DNP degree? Independent practice (ANPs can already do this in many states)? To make double what MDs/DOs do? Mostly for academia?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 16 May 2010 13:41:01 +0000

Just would like to clarify an error posted by David. The degree proposed for NPs to obtain by 2015 is NOT a PhD, but rather a DNP. A PhD is research focused and a DNP is PRACTICE focused. For the purposes of this discussion, this is a distinction that must be clear. The DNP will require double the number of clinical hours as the current requirement and includes much more content (too much to go into here…check the ACNP website for details). Whether this will result in better or “stronger” NPs remains to be seen.

Very interesting article and replies, btw!

By: RangelMD

RangelMD — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:01:47 +0000

Would you be in favor of requiring NP training programs to have their students go through much longer clinical rotations if they don’t have extensive experience prior to entering an NP program?

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:37:16 +0000

As a practicing NP in a highly specialized endocrinology office, I would like to point out that prior to recieving my NP degree I worked for 24 years in clinical settings such as: pediatric intensive care, cardiovascular intensive care, neonatal intensive care, medical surgical, and gerontology. Most NP’s have extensive experience in a clinical setting prior to ever entering a master’s program. MD’s do indeed recieve a highly extensive education and have a vast amount of knowledge that with the right attitude could work collaboratively with NP’s in providing great quality of care.

By: David

David — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:51:03 +0000

NP’s will be required to get their PhDs instead of only a Masters degree starting in 2015, I wonder if that will help with the experience levels?

By: RangelMD

RangelMD — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:59:10 +0000

I don’t base my view of NPs based on this one experience. I raise a question of concern based on this experience.

I have worked with many excellent NPs. I have worked with many (far too many) bad MDs. The concern is about increasing patient loads on health care providers who – by design – have less training and experience.

The solution? Likely a redesign of primary care but one that certainly will include mid-levels as a critical component.

By: Eva

Eva — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:41:37 +0000