[NPInfo] Jeff's letter & being invisible (last comment from me)

[Carla Anderson]

Regarding how people are called, I think that some people might find it patronizing, others may not, for example if a doctor who is a Medical Director or owner of an urgent care employs other doctors, and is referring to them when talking to patients such as "my doctors do this, or my doctors follow this policy"...even with doctor to doctor there could be offense taken, depending on the tone of voice, is it like family with affection and pride, or is it authoritative? . So I think that is not really a visibility issue, but again a role and hierarchy issue. Regarding mas, if the ma is assigned for the day to work with you, I might say to a patient my ma will get you this...or refer to her by name...but I would not collectively call them "my ma's" unless I was paying them,  It is a smaller issue than visibility, but about being courteous to people's feelings and again considering views about hierarchy and being a team player and empowerment of all employees, I still think it
 goes back to courtesy and communication. Just ask at the beginning, if you employ people, and say does it bother you if I refer to you as such and such? Some people may not even be aware of how they sound or what they say.  
   
  But on the other topic, I do think to get back to Shelby's comment about invisibility, unless we are truly working in an NP owned/and/or operated clinic, and this in combination with repetitive public education from direct experience as a patient of the NP owned clinic and through various repeated frequent media outlets,  I do not think there will be total comprehension of the NP role by the public due to the imbedded historical definition of what a nurse is and does, and has done for roles in the past. And some say, who cares, but again I believe the perception IS important because the perception is what carries over into having a practice, and having people view you as a provider in your own right, and thus wanting to come see you as a patient, and thus allowing your practice to grow, while at the same time having collegueal relationships in the community with cardiologists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, massage therapists, the emergency departments,  etc, so that we
 truly can practice as professionals, follow our passion, and thrive in all aspects in our respective specialties. It is not easy, especially in those states with physician supervisory requirements, but even in those states you can have NP operated clinics, with protocols on paper, and at least with the NP as the visible provider if it is not necessary to have the physician on site, it helps the public with the perception of what NPs do.  I don't know how to get it all achieved, but this is what I would like to see for all of us, and we just have to work in our individual corners as agents of change, with our particular state dilemmas, and work on solving them.  My opinion, Carla now I promise I will drop it, I am boring myself! 

Shelby Havens <shelbyhavens at hotmail.com> wrote:
  Carla et al:

I totally agree with your views. It burns me up when the medical director of 
our facility refers to the ARNP's who work there as "my nurse 
practitioners". As if he would have a clue what I do, much less be able to 
review all the work we do.

So what can we do to change this perception? Just telling patients our names 
and titles doesn't solve the problem for me.

Regards,

Shelby Havens, ARNP

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Carla R. Anderson, FNP-C
  Healing Presence Family Practice, PC  
  carla_rayne at yahoo.com
  503 819 9726