Reports of how physicians feel toward nurse practitioners are conflicting. On one hand, nurse practitioners save physicians time and money in their practices. On the other hand, there is concern of a ‘turf war’ between NP’s and physicians as legislation increasingly allows nurse practitioners to open their own practices across the country. Ultimately, how do physicians view the nurse practitioner profession?
Healthcare reform, the projected shortage of primary care physicians and the threat of decreased reimbursem*nt from Medicare has reinvigorated the debate over the role of nurse practitioners in the healthcare field. Some physicians are worried that nurse practitioners provide a lower quality of care than that of physicians. Others express concern for the physician job market as nurse practitioners are opening their own practices in increasingly large numbers taking a cut of the patient population. There are two views we must examen in evaluating the relationship between physicians and nurse practitioners; we must look at the official statements made by physician organizations as well as the actual experiences of nurse practitioners working side-by-side with physicians.
How Do Physician Organizations View Nurse Practitioners?
Overall, physicians organizations officially see nurse practitioners as an asset to medical practice but only when working in conjunction with a physician. Physician organizations do not support the independent practice of nurse practitioners. The American College of Physicians, for example, states “patients with complex problems, multiple diagnoses, or difficult management challenges will typically be best served by physicians working with a team of healthcare professionals that may include nurse practitioners”. The American Academy of Family Physiciansstates “the nurse practitioner should not function as an independent healthcare provider…the nurse practitioner should only function in an integrated practice arrangement under the direction and responsible supervision of a practicing, licensed physician”. Physician organizations typically point to a lower level of education and skill among nurse practitioners as the reason NP’s should not practice independently.
What Do Individual NP Experiences Indicate About the Relationship Between Physicians and Nurse Practitioners?
The negative views of physician organizations do not seem to permeate into physician practices that employ nurse practitioners. Although physician organizations take a stance against nurse practitioners, in my experience, most nurse practitioners feel valued as an asset to their practice. Physicians I have worked with seem to truly approach our professional relationship with a collaborative attitude. In patients with whom I am competent to treat, they do not get involved or question my decision making. They trust my level of expertise and allow me to make my own decisions. When I do have questions or ask for help or advice in treating a patient with complex medical problems they are available to help. I have found this to be true among my other NP friends, especially those working in specialty practices where complex medical situations frequently arise.
When I worked in the primary care setting, I found that I practiced almost completely independently. In fact, the physician who owned the practice was almost never present. He was available by phone for consultation but I rarely needed assistance. He respected my ability to practice competently. I was a valuable asset to him as he did not have to see nearly as many patients and could focus more on the business aspects of managing the clinic.
Nurse practitioners working for physician groups are not technically practicing independently and are therefore not subject to the scrutiny and negative views physician organizations have toward those in independent practice. Does this mean you should avoid independent practice as a nurse practitioner? No! If you work independently you will not be interacting with physicians anyway! My view is that NP’s are perfectly capable of independent practice. Might you need to refer a complex patient to a physician or specialist? Of course! Physicians do this too. Physician organizations need to realize the abilities of nurse practitioners and the quality of care we provide our patients as many individual physicians already have rather than viewing NP’s as a threat to the medical field.
FAQs
Overall, physicians organizations officially see nurse practitioners as an asset to medical practice but only when working in conjunction with a physician.
What do physicians think of nurse practitioners? ›
Physicians vouch for the activities of their NPs, even though they do not supervise them directly. With all of the privileges granted to NPs, problems can progress for a long time before these NPs perceive that these problems are beyond the scope of their competency.
How do patients view nurse practitioners? ›
Four studies found higher patient satisfaction among NPs, two found lower cost of care, and three showed lower consultation times by NPs compared to that of physicians and fewer primary care visits two years after an initial consultation.
Do physicians respect NPs? ›
I can say with confidence most physicians, particularly those that hire nurse practitioners, treat NP's with respect. Our scope of practice is different than that of physicians but as a nurse practitioner I know my boundaries and abide by them.
Are nurse practitioners well respected? ›
The nation's 385,000 licensed NPs are trusted by patients because they are highly educated and clinically prepared health care providers who work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients.
Why do patients prefer NP over MD? ›
Provider qualifications and previous health care experiences are cited as key reasons for preferring all provider types. Additionally, physicians are more often preferred for their qualifications and technical skills, whereas NP/PAs are more often preferred for their interpersonal skills.
Are PAs or NPs more respected? ›
According to the U.S. News and World Report, PAs are ranked the #1 Best Healthcare Job, with NPs ranking right behind at #2.
Why am I seeing a nurse practitioner and not a doctor? ›
Nurse practitioners are typically not as booked as doctors, and can fit patients in sooner, providing relief without long delays or wait times. Nurse practitioners see a variety of patients, meaning that their knowledge and experiences are varied and may be better suited to creating preventative care plans.
Can NPs be called Dr? ›
As a general rule, no, because not all nurse practitioners have a doctorate or similar qualifying degree. The general consensus is that you should use the cue they give you in their introduction, including the title they assign themselves.
What do MDS think of NPs? ›
Overall, physicians held both positive and negative opinions about expanding treatment abilities for NPs and PAs. In particular, 57% of physicians said they saw "both positives and negatives" associated with giving PAs more treatment abilities, while 47% had mixed feelings about expanding treatment abilities for NPs.
It is your choice whether you are comfortable with and can trust an NP over a doctor. However, it is crucial to make that decision based on facts and not myths. Nurse practitioners can often spend more time helping you understand your care plan so that you are more likely to follow it and have a better outcome.
Will nurse practitioners become oversaturated? ›
The nurse practitioner field is becoming more and more saturated, which is leading to fewer and fewer jobs. This can cause NPs to get stuck in a position they are not that thrilled with. With competition from physician assistants, this problem only gets worse. There is a career ceiling for a nurse practitioner.
Does a nurse practitioner know more than a doctor? ›
While doctors and nurse practitioners have many similarities, there are some notable differences. The biggest difference between the two is the amount of time spent on training. While NPs have more training than a registered nurse, they receive less training than a doctor. They also are licensed differently.
How close to being a doctor is a nurse practitioner? ›
While doctors and nurse practitioners have many similarities, there are some notable differences. The biggest difference between the two is the amount of time spent on training. While NPs have more training than a registered nurse, they receive less training than a doctor. They also are licensed differently.
Is it okay to see a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor? ›
While it can be tempting to want care from someone with the title “Doctor”, nurse practitioners are equally skilled and knowledgeable in their field. Nurse practitioners are typically not as booked as doctors, and can fit patients in sooner, providing relief without long delays or wait times.
Should nurse practitioners be addressed as doctor? ›
So, do you call a nurse practitioner doctor? As a general rule, no, because not all nurse practitioners have a doctorate or similar qualifying degree. The general consensus is that you should use the cue they give you in their introduction, including the title they assign themselves.
