[NPInfo] Physician blogs maligning NP s and PAs

[jlambertrn at comcast.net]

Karen,
I echo your thanks to Stephen and David. I agree whole heartedly with you and your thoughts and the fact that much of our knowledge/training is similar to the apprentice concept that has been working for centuries. (Sorry about the run-on sentence; my high school english teacher is probably rolling over in her grave!)  As you, I too remain humbled by the amazing amount of knowledge that is out there that we (including docs) need to be on top of.  I treat people with respect, and expect the same in return, docs included. For the most part, I enjoy a very collegial relationship with the other docs in the ED where I work.  Occasionally, I have to call a specialist for a consult. Most are receptive to me as a NP, however you still run across the  arrogant jerk every now and then. I always remember who they are when I am moonlighting in primary care as I frequently do.  Does a doc really think I am ever going to refer a patient to him/her after being disrespectful or unprofessional towa
rds me? If the offender treats a colleague in that manner, how will he treat my patient?  Nope, no referrals for you! 
As far as Panda Bear is concerned, I feel he has way too much time on his hands. His post was long, rambling and most of all B-O-R-I-N-G.  One of the AMA's beefs with us has always been "they take patients away from us, and it will affect my ability to earn a living". Does Panda Bear have any clue to the difficulty a patient encounters when he/she calls their PCP on a day when they truly ill and are told that the next available appt. is in two weeks? We see these patients in the ED every day, so there goes the theory of "us" stealing "their" patients.  Paaaaallleeeeeze! There are plenty of patients to go around and that is an unfounded, tired, mundane talking point put forth by the AMA and other groups. That argument impacts patients in a very negative manner. Yep, reading that blog, made me get the same feeling in my gut that I get when I have to call that arrogant ENT or surgeon, or whatever. The positive point in all of this is that I LOVE WHAT I DO, and like Peg Fitzgerald alwa
ys says "Being a NP is the BEST job on the planet".  So what next? We all go on doing what we always do- providing  quality, evidence-based care to our patients  who put their faith and trust in us  every day. One patient at a time. I think it's time to join the ACC- Dave Mittman, are you listening? I have my credit card in hand. LOL.
Julie Lambert, FNP
Ocean County NJ
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: karenfnp at comcast.net 

> Stephen and David, 
> 
> Thanks for your comments and the sample blog. As a champion, especially for 
> NPs, I like to hear what others say about us in order to facilitate 
> bridgebuilding. One aspect of health care provider training I like to stress 
> with docs and advanced practice clinician students is that so much of what we 
> learn in the medical aspect of what we do is apprentice based. We all have to 
> learn the same new info when new diagnoses, treatments and meds emerge on the 
> health care scene via CME and OJT to maintain quality evidence based practices. 
> ( To have more residency programs for PAs and NPs in speciality areas would give 
> us more credibility in specific content areas.) I like to maintain a posture 
> of humility in terms of all that we need to know these days and respect docs who 
> do the same. It looks like this "panda bear physician", per the content in this 
> blog blurb, chooses to spend energy putting NPs PAs down and reminds me how we 
> have to choose where to spend our energy in ! 
> buildin 
> g our allies in the physician community and not waste it a la "casting pearls 
> to swine" as Jesus said once. 
> 
> Karen Riesinger FNP 
> Portland, OR 
> 
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