Nurse Practitioners and General Physicians

Introduction

The transition from novice to expert to advanced Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a long and tedious process. It requires perseverance, dedication and a tremendous amount of hard work. Nurses, in general are the essence of the medical profession. They work hard in hand with doctors but now with the concept of advanced NP they will be working more independently and individually. This paper discusses if Nurse practitioners can provide equivilant care to general phsyiscians.

Discussion

Nursing is an integral part of the clinical care process rather than an isolated or separate component. Nursing is a dynamic and supportive profession guided by its code of ethics, is rooted in caring, a concept evident throughout its 4 field of activity: practice, education, administration and research. The nursing profession holds ideals related to human health throughout the life span. Nurses direct their energies toward the prevention of illness, the alleviation of suffering and the ensuring of a peaceful death when life can no longer be sustained. Nurses view a holistic view of humans who have the capacity to set goals and make decision. Nurses uphold the right of responsibility of individuals to make informed choices congruent with their own beliefs and values (Tiller 3-4).

his has resulted in Nurse Practitioners establishing independent practices that provide the same health care of primary care physicians, or they can also work in practices where the Nurse Practitioner and the doctor care for patients together. "Many states are increasing the level of authority and reimbursement for Nurse Practitioners. Most private insurance companies and health maintenance organizations cover the services of Nurse Practitioners. Some blame the nursing shortage partly on Advanced Practice Fields. Registered Nurses are obtaining their master's degree in order to earn more money and have more opportunities.

Recognizing and valuing individual needs are key prospects of the nursing profession. The NP role evolved in the early 1970's to provide primary medical care to those who weren't getting any: primarily residents of poor urban enclaves and those in remote rural areas. Over the years the role has evolved, a today NP's provide nursing and medical services to individuals and families, emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention, along with diagnosis and management of article and chronic diseases. Starting from the nursing tradition of strong communication skills and a desire to care for others, today NP's bring expert assessment skills to the health care menu. The education of NP has also evolved, and these days most have master's degrees with a concentration in caring for a specific group of patients, such as children, adults or families.

According to (Albery Strang Gossop & Griffiths 197-204)Co- director of the Medical Nurse The NP is a registered professional nurse (an R.N., who has graduated from a school of nursing) who serves patients as a health care provider in collaboration with a physician or is a member of a large inter disciplinary team. The NP uses nursing skills and certain medical skills in responding to the health care needs of patients. The NP employs independent ...