You go to your local urgent care clinic, or doctor's office, and you’re seen by a physician assistant  (PA), who examines you, says everything is structurally intact, and you should use ice, elevate your leg and take some ibuprofen for the pain. All Rights Reserved. For instants a family nurse practitioner might make around 90,000 - 100,000, whereas a specialized nurse practitioner might make 110,000 - 130,000. While it seems to make sense to always ask for an expert, there can be some downsides. If it were me (I've been around tons of both) I think I'd prefer whomever is cheaper or who I could see first it the cost was the same. 2 Comments on “Should I Become a Nurse Practitioner (One Minute Quiz) ” Reply . Doctors are able to diagnose conditions, treat patients for all ailments, and write prescriptions. Start the quiz by choosing one of these which describes you. Got it? Nov 10, 2014. Say NURSE PRACTITIONER, MIDWIFE, PHYSICIAN. Hello! A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced training and education. These highly trained medical professionals can provide many primary care services or be part of your specialty care team. In fact, most studies suggest that the care you get from NPs or PAs is indistinguishable from physician care in the outpatient setting, in the hospital and possibly in the intensive care unit and emergency room, though there is less data in the latter two settings. These are the N.P.s (nurse practitioners) and P.A.s (physician assistants) you may run into at a doctor’s office. Should you be a nurse or a doctor. Educating kids and their families about normal growth and childhood development issues (e.g., toilet training, temper tantrums, biting) is a big part of the pediatric NP's role. 11. It also can vary between specialties of both areas. Nurse Practitioner vs Doctor: Filling an Urgent Need. The Center for Advancing Health has some suggestions for what you can say to politely broach the topic with your provider: • “Before we start treatment, I’d like to get a second opinion. ), which requires an undergraduate degree in nursing. Jerome Groopman, a cancer specialist and writer, gave his suggestions for when to seek a second opinion in an interview with WebMD: Any time you have a very serious or life-threatening disease: • where the treatment is very risky or toxic; • where the diagnosis is not clear, the treatment is experimental, or there is no established consensus or Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment; • if you're considering participating in a trial for a new drug; • if you're considering some new experimental approach or a procedure that involves using experimental instruments or devices. 2 Mins read. Patients can often get an appointment to see an NP sooner than they can get in to see a doctor. A family medicine doctor might make 200,000, whereas a specialized physician might make … Why You Should See a Nurse Practitioner. NPs also tend to have more of a focus on education. The problem is I don’t know which way I should go. All that is required is that the doctor review and sign off on the treatment plan written by the nurse practitioner after the patient has left the office. Raylen04. Jan 27, 2019 It can take months to get an appointment with a doctor, or cost more to see them versus a PA or nurse practitioner (NP). Let's say you hurt your knee doing your best Tom Brady impression playing flag football. You can request to see me instead of the MDs. Wondering if it's OK to see a nurse practitioner instead of your usual doctor when you're not feeling well? Yes. A patient utters the words you dread hearing: “I want to see a real doctor, not an assistant.” In some rural areas, a physician assistant or nurse practitioner may be the only medical provider for miles, so a “real doctor” may not be around. Most physicians do an undergraduate degree, medical school, then complete a residency of at least three years where they practice as a doctor under the supervision of more senior physicians. The difference is significant: A nurse practitioner earns, on average, about $101,000 annually compared to a family practice doctor, who makes around $192,000 annually although that figure can easily top $200,000 in some states, while a nurse practitioner will only top out at about $135,000 in the most expensive cities. For instance, beyond the master's degree in nursing, the nurse can pursue the doctor of nursing practice, or DNP degree. Also, with the holidays approaching, it's prime season for senior physicians to be away, with the rest of the health care team pitching in. “Certainly it’s a patient’s right to see an MD,” Pienasola, the emergency room PA told me. If you haven’t seen one yet, you will. What the PA said makes sense, but shouldn’t you see -- you know -- the doctor? Having said that, it may just be that the NP was available sooner than your doctor, and that's why you were scheduled with her. Every patient wants the best medical care available. One of her goals is to help patients and their families make educated healthcare decisions and healthy lifestyle choices. Hello! Family practice physicians are often called general practitioners or primary care physicians, and will see patients with nearly any issue. Cedars-Sinai’s blog and digital publications tell the stories of thriving patients, dedicated caregivers, and brilliant clinician-scientists. There is a team of doctors and nurses working together, so they actually don't know who I can meet each time I visit because my doctor maybe not available then. There are nearly 200,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) practicing in the US, and The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) has made it an annual tradition to recognize and bring awareness to the incredible work these providers do by celebrating National Nurse Practitioner Week.One Medical is proud to have many NPs practicing in our offices throughout the country. Patients can often get an appointment to see an NP sooner than they can get in to see a doctor. Should My Kids See a Nurse Practitioner? Nurse Practitioner vs Doctor: Filling an Urgent Need. Yes. In Massachusetts, for instance, there are already close to 8,000 NPs and over 2,000 PAs and those numbers are rising to fill a growing shortage in primary care. For PAs in Massachusetts, the scope of their practice is determined by their supervising physician, who does not need to be physically present, only “available for consultation,” during clinical encounters. With a shortage of primary care doctors in the United States, should nurse practitioners be given the same responsibilities as their physician colleagues in order the fill the void? Another primary care NP at Cambridge Health Alliance and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Deidre Allesio, recommended looking for “the intangibles.” Things like how well they communicate, how well and how fully they answer questions, who they turn to for further guidance and whether they focus on a particular health issue or the population as a whole. In one study, the patients who saw NPs in an outpatient clinic said they were more satisfied compared to those seeing physicians, perhaps in part because their visits with NPs were usually longer. The position comes with the prestigious title but not necessarily the same level of pay. Nurse Practitioners (NP) are highly trained Nurses who act as primary caregivers and they’re able to diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and suggest treatments to patients. While a doctor may refer a patient for specialized care, such as to a neurologist, the physician has a well-rounded education that overlaps with all specialties. By Michelle Konstantinovsky There are nearly 200,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) practicing in the US, and The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) has made it an annual tradition to recognize and bring awareness to the incredible work these providers do by celebrating National Nurse Practitioner Week. Some physician organizations would like to restrict the scope of practice for NPs and PAs until research proves their care is high quality. Another difference is ease of access. Why would I see a nurse practitioner rather than a doctor? So this is a guiz to determine weither you should be a nurse or a doctor when you get a job. So regardless of which provider you see, the question may not be: “should I see the doctor?” but “when should I get a second opinion?” And that second opinion could be with a doctor, or a more experienced NP or PA. With any practitioner, you should consider a second opinion whenever you feel one is necessary. An NP is a nurse practitioner. This is a personal decision that needs to be based on being comfortable with a primary care provider. To understand better what nurse practitioner vs. doctor means, we should first look into each profession. It takes experience for the provider to learn the line of when they’re over their head and need to refer a patient to a specialist. Nurse Practitioners quiz, should i become a Nurse Practitioner, is Nurse Practitioners suitable for me, do i want to be a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioners personality test. The Family Nurse Practitioner can fill this gap in healthcare by working within a diverse healthcare system including physicians, and other professional practitioners. A nurse practitioner and doctor are not the same, but it really doesn't matter who you see, as both are trained well for this very minor procedure. Hopefully by now your knee feels better after the ice and rest. Nurse Practitioner: Doctor: Required to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), pass the nursing licensure exam, and earn at least a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) Required to complete a bachelor’s degree relevant to the medical field (e.g. Joanna Gross, an ear, nose and throat PA at Cambridge Health Alliance, added: “You have to trust your gut and feel like you have a good rapport with that person to trust them with your care,”, Clearly, no one knows everything about every specialty. What about a CNP (Certified Nurse Practitioner) or DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) or nurse anesthetist? An MD is a doctor of medicine. The term 'nurse practitioner' should not be confused with the term 'practice nurse'. Great quiz! As a wave of aging baby boomers begins to require greater levels of care, there simply aren’t enough physicians to meet the demand. 0. While doctors and nurse practitioners have many similarities, there are some notable differences. In addition to the degree needed to become a registered nurse, NPs also get master's or doctoral degrees. 1. The healthcare system is currently facing a major crisis involving a shortage of primary care physicians. Raylen04. Last Name. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the country could see a shortage of up to 120,000 physicians by 2030. With the challenge many Canadians face of finding a family doctor, a nurse practitioner … NPs with prescribing authority in this state need an official physician to supervise them but have an independent license to practice. It’s easier to get an appointment with a nurse practitioner because most people prefer to see the doctor even though they have to wait days for the appointment. As the co-chair for Advanced Practice Nurses Council at Cedars-Sinai, Chona Melvin's job includes informing the public about nurse practitioners. This is bad for the patient, especially one who has an undiagnosed problem … Can I See a Nurse Practitioner Instead of a Doctor? Find out when visiting a nurse practitioner or physician assistant works best. Nursing specialties tend to be slightly different than those for MDs. Those competencies are reviewed every couple of years as the PA gets re-credentialed. now when I get my medication her name is on as my prescriber. For example, a CAT scan, X-rays or even some small procedures can be scheduled after a visit with a mid-level provider, helping you save months waiting to see a physician specialist. 03.26.2020 at 10:52 am. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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