[NPInfo] what they don't know

[David or Diane Dito]

I totally agree, Sue. I prefer the simple NP after one's name. Patients seem
to get that. Now that the hospital has changed the policy to require all
those initials on the name badge, I am forever explaining what they all
mean. It would seem to me that NP should suffice, with the alphabet soup
reserved for academic purposes or official correspondence (if at all). We've
had this discussion before. Pediatricians, dermatologists, gerontologists,
cardiologists, internists and family practitioners, etc., are MDs (or DOs)
on their name badges. Why is it we have to string everything out? Doing so
does not elevate us in anyone's eyes and only serves to confuse.

Diane Dito

-----Original Message-----
From: npinfo-bounces at nurse.net [mailto:npinfo-bounces at nurse.net] On Behalf
Of Sue Emmite
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 9:40 PM
To: NP Info
Subject: Re: [NPInfo] what they don't know

I believe the title NP should be standardized over the entire USA.  Anyone
have any ideas about how we would go about that?  I am drowning in letters
after my name which only serve to confuse the patients and families.
Physicians don't have a string of titles behind their name.  Pretty soon we
will either have to wear a huge name tag or shorten the credentials required
by all of the state boards of nursing.

Sue Emmite

On Nov 28, 2007 7:26 PM, suernfnp at iwon.com <suernfnp at iwon.com> wrote:

>
> There are many medical assistants with several years of medical office
> experience that think they have the same knowledge as a RN, and give
advice
> to patients with this belief. The "don't know what they don't know."
>
> In the same way, nurses with experience outside the bedside think they
> have as much knowledge as a NP. They believe their additional experience
> outside the realm of staff nursing gives them the knowledge they need to
be
> APNs. Again they "don't know what they don't know."
>
> I have a friend who earned her MSN with me, but did not want to complete
> the post-master's NP program. At that time (1999)it was possible to short
> cut this and be grandfathered in by taking the NP exam based on your MSN
and
> additional nursing experience (she practices in cardiology). She failed
the
> exam twice, then the grandfather time period ran out. She found out the
hard
> way what she did not know.
>
> She is still practicing as a cardiology APN (this is what her badge and
> lab coat say) at my hospital, at the same or higher salary than I make.
> However, I can and do practice in other facilities, where she would have a
> hard time finding a similar position outside of our hospital.
>
> I believe we should stick to the title nurse practitioner and avoid use of
> the term advanced practice nurse. The title nurse practitioner has a legal
> and professional definition, while any RN who wants to can call themselves
> an advanced practice nurse and put it on their badge and lab coat to
> legitimize their role. Who is there to stop them?
>
> Do I think the DNP will legitimize our role? I've looked at the program at
> my alma mater, and one of my friends is currently enrolled. The courses
are
> called "Health Care Informatics", "Leadership and Collaboration",
"Advanced
> Nursing Theory", "Advanced Research Methods", and "Health Systems Policy
and
> Regulation." In no way will it change how I am practicing today. It would
> not earn me a dime more in salary at my current position. I would be
forever
> explaining what the initials stand for, much as I need to explain what
APRN
> stands for on the business cards the hospital printed for me. I would much
> prefer to earn a PhD as a terminal degree, as this degree is recognized
> everywhere. If only I had the time and money! Maybe someday.
>
> Sue D in MI
>
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