difference between physicians and nurses

[p0ntif]

With the advent of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Researchers, are there things that doctors can do that nurses can't?

I'm just curious because I when I go to the hospital I see nurse practitioners a hell of a lot more than I ever see a doctor.

 

[blackdogdeek]

can nurses prescribe medications or prodecures? i thought only docs could do that.

 

[TMPadmin]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
can nurses prescribe medications or prodecures? i thought only docs could do that.

No they can not!

 

[p0ntif]

Nurse Practitioners can prescribe meds.

 

[TMPadmin]

But most (basically all) insurance companies still require the doctor's "okay" and still do not accept the nurse Practitioner's script.

 

[daveshel]

Then there's PAs (physician's assistants) that muddy the waters even further.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: TMPadmin

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
can nurses prescribe medications or prodecures? i thought only docs could do that.

No they can not!

Yes they can after her Boss(Doctor) goes over the diagnosis.

I goto a nurse practioner who blows away most Doctors I have ever seen.

Ausm

 

[WhiteKnight]

Nurse practitioners don't do rotations do they? Doctors may have quite a bit more breadth. Sort of like a military officer vs. an NCO (Staff Sgt. or something).

 

[p0ntif]

Ok, that is the kind of info I am looking for! Anyone else? Maybe a Nurse or Doctor could comment?

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: daveshel
Then there's PAs (physician's assistants) that muddy the waters even further.

My Doctor is a PA-C whatever that is 😉

Ausm

 

[p0ntif]

Originally posted by: daveshel
Then there's PAs (physician's assistants) that muddy the waters even further.

Yeah! I forgot about PAs. What about them? Is there anything docotrs can do that PAs cannot?

 

[Ausm]

Some links for you

http://allnurses.com/forums/sh...hp?p=955817#post955817

http://www.aapa.org/geninfo1.html

 

[daveshel]

Originally posted by: p0ntif

Originally posted by: daveshel
Then there's PAs (physician's assistants) that muddy the waters even further.

Yeah! I forgot about PAs. What about them? Is there anything docotrs can do that PAs cannot?

PAs must be supervised by a doc and cannot order procedures or medications on their own.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: daveshel

Originally posted by: p0ntif

Originally posted by: daveshel
Then there's PAs (physician's assistants) that muddy the waters even further.

Yeah! I forgot about PAs. What about them? Is there anything docotrs can do that PAs cannot?

PAs must be supervised by a doc and cannot order procedures or medications on their own.

I'm pretty sure that PA's can write scripts for non-narcotics.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Ausm

Originally posted by: daveshel
Then there's PAs (physician's assistants) that muddy the waters even further.

My Doctor is a PA-C whatever that is 😉

Ausm

That's not a Doctor. That's a certified Physician's Assistant.

 

[wyvrn]

Pa's can prescribe drugs like a physician. Basically PA's and Nurse practioners handle most of the caseload, and doctors are becoming more and more specialized. Also for complicated cases, PA's and NP's will consult with Doctors. It should be mentioned that Doctors have significantly more graduate education than do either PA's or Nurses. Typically a PA will have a 4-yr bachelors and a 2-yr PA schooling. There are some more comprehensive 3-yr PA schools out there, but they are not as "popular" as you can imagine. My wife graduated from a 3-yr PA program in Texas and got quite a bit of education, many classes were the same classes Doctors take. But when you factor in that the average doctor has 7-9 years of graduate education, you can certainly see the difference. But with more and more people needing care as our nation ages and we continue to be obese, NP's and PA's will continue to handle the bulk of the caseloads at most hospitals and clinics, imo, and be "overseen" by doctors.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: daveshel

Originally posted by: p0ntif

Originally posted by: daveshel
Then there's PAs (physician's assistants) that muddy the waters even further.

Yeah! I forgot about PAs. What about them? Is there anything docotrs can do that PAs cannot?

PAs must be supervised by a doc and cannot order procedures or medications on their own.

I'm pretty sure that PA's can write scripts for non-narcotics.

In 46 states, they can.