[NPInfo] My Thoughts........

[Stephanie Walker]

I don't agree with the idea that we have to for some reason avoid  
talking about what the doctors are saying.

We have to rebut what they are saying. So we have to be able to take  
each outrageous statement apart (taking apart = analyzing) to a  
friend or family member (or MD co-workers) and show the illogic. Just  
blowing our own trumpets trying to drown out the AMA and its state  
medical societies is not going to help. And Jeff and Dave have  
analyzed their pronouncements in very articulate ways. Instead of  
ignoring the MDs, we have to bring their agendas out into the light  
of day.

I agree with Dave, that most people automatically believe what  
doctors tell them. It's those two magic letters "MD." Most people  
don't want to think that doctors are greedy. It's rare to hear that  
from people even these days when the MD's image is somewhat tarnished.

Yes, we are nurses, and I am proud to be a nurse, too. But it is not  
helpful for us, when the term "nurse" is used interchangeably for  
"nurse practitioner" and we let it slide. That is one of the AMA's  
strategies, to muddy the water by using the term "nurse" in talking  
about the retail clinics, making it look like nurses are all of a  
sudden taking on a new role. They are trying to influence public  
perception by implying that the "nurses" are taking on  
responsibilities beyond the real scope of their training--moving from  
bedpan pushing to seeing patients all by themselves. The "nurses" are  
taking this great big giant step without the bosses (the public  
always thinks the doctors are the nurses' bosses) saying they could.

If we let people keep calling us "nurses" instead of using our  
correct occupational title, why should anyone be surprised that the  
general public thinks NPs have to follow doctors' orders?

Stephanie Walker, FNP


On Sep 3, 2007, at 2:05 PM, mmhelgert46 at comcast.net wrote:

> I've been watching the listserv and feel compelled to jump  
> in .....I feel...in order to get above this fray...we need to stop  
> focusing on physicians,what they think, do and write and  
> say......we have our own voices...we need to meet with legislators,  
> reporters, write articles and get our voices out there...anyone can  
> have an opinion including the AMA etc. and mostly that's all it  
> is..opinion. We have data to support NPs and PAs, we have a track  
> record...we have 30+ years in the business...plenty of time to  
> focus on where we need to be going...and it isn't down this road of  
> rehashing the AMA and Retail Health Clinic AMA opinions....we can  
> set our own record straight here.
>
> Meg FNP
> Portland Oregon
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