Nurse practicioners

[dontr20x]

In your area are nurse practicioners seemingly taking over for doctors? In this area (northeast Alabama) they are opening more and more family practice offices, and if you go to a specialist office you might see the doctor on the first visit then after that initial visit you see one of their nurse practitioners. The specialist may have 3 or 4 working there. I guess there is a doctor shortage but it looks to me like a way to multiply the doctor's income by seeing more patients in a day. I guess we should be glad there is a medical office to go to as this area is considered rural and there are not enough people to draw a lot of new doctors.

[BigFishSteve]

Yes

[Transom]

Master mechanics in a large shop probably rarely do oil changes and tire rotations too. Kind of the same principle.

[StumpDonkey]

Yep

[BP in ME]

Same problem here.

[crawdadking]

Yes mostly all you can see in our rural areas

[Cestratton]

I've never seen my PCP, just the practitioner.

[Bassin08]

My MD that I had seen for 42 years retired. He recommended his nurse practitioner, but I started seeing a DO. I think my MD gave me good advice. In our area it may take six months to see a specialist.

[D.O.C. 989]

I mostly see the Nurse Practitioners for my visits. I think I receive excellent care from them.

[ColdSVT]

Same problem here.

Why is it a problem?

I wish my docs had more PAs or NPs.

[ManxFishing]

Yes,
My "Doctor" is one, But really I like him better then the last 2 doctors
At least he Listens

[RNKingCx19]

If it wasn’t for needing meds from a pharmacy? Antibiotic's a shot,steroids or strong pain meds. The local over the counter meds would be just fine 99% of the time. Yes nurse practitioners are slowly taking over.

[tcesni]

With the shortage of general practitioners, especially in rural areas, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are important. My oldest daughter is a PA.

[MYRX]

In the Athens, GA area yes. I have not seen a doctor in 12 years, unless it was my cardiologist

[Cajun Skeeter]

Yes

[Grizzly]

I needed my blood pressure prescription refilled. Doctors were months out for an appointment. NP was available the next couple of days. Prescription filled.

Added bonus was she was cute and wore spandex

[Greenwing1]

I mostly see the Nurse Practitioners for my visits. I think I receive excellent care from them.

Me too! I really like the nurse practitioner I've been seeing for a few years.

[basscatlildave]

I've been sick and called my Doctor and they are weeks and weeks out but I can walk in to the Nurse Practitioner.

[CGWright]

Yes, and I have no problem with it. They are usually just as knowledgeable and skilled IMO.

[Hoot]

Nurse Practitioners are great their years as Nurses have given them valuable experience and their education to become Practitioners isn’t easy so well prepared to treat patients.

I prefer to see Nurse Practitioners for most day to day ailments but never had one refuse to refer me to a specialist. I can’t say the same thing about General Practice MDs had two that were way too confident in their misdiagnosis that ended up delaying the process.