Does Anyone See a Nurse Practitioner rather than a Physician

[kimandkathess]

I also go see a nurse practitioner. We love going to her. If she feels there is something she can't address well herself she sends me to see a specialist. We have not had any problems so far.
Like one poster said, you get bad dr's and bad NP. But there are good dr's and np out there, you just have to find one.

I had had serious anxiety years back and i told an MD about it, and she blew me off, I called another office that was run by a NP and she totally listened to me. They found out it was anxiety and i was put on the medication I needed.

[reezz]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input.....I'll most likely be making an appointment soon and see how it goes.

[434Teresa]

I see NP I cant tell the differance in them. They both do the same things. The one I see here for family dr has a silding sale chart for fees based on income that is one reason I go there.

My breathing dr has a NP there also but I have yet to see her for my breathing is so bad he always wants to see me himself. He about always calls her into to the room to let here hear my breathing and tells her things about why its that way so if she hears it in someone else she will know what to do. My bad breathing is acid reflux related.

[dianee]

Depending what I am going for, I will book either with the Doc or his asst. They both have totally different bedside manners and both vary when it comes to writing prescriptions. Both are very competent.

[duetchan]

As someone who just finished a nursing program and plans to go on to get her Masters (or most likely Doctorate by the time I get there) to be a Nurse Practitioner, I can tell you that for the most part, if you are looking at a NP for 'family practice', 'pediatrics', and similar wellness visits they will both be able to do the same exams, skills, and depending on the state write prescriptions. One of the main differences between them (aside from how many years in residency) is that the MD is taught to treat the MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS while the NP is taught to treat the PATIENT, so that's where the comments for better bedside manner usually come in from.

[dianee]

that's interesting!

[Rene S]

I only see the Nurse practitioner at my OB/GYN. Don't need the OB anymore, and she can do anything else I need, and is easier to get in to see.

I did this for several years too, with no problems.

[thecooperhouse]

NP's can do basically anything a dr can do (other than write narcotic rx's) They are usually way more patient centered (as said above) rather than disease centered. If an NP was a choice for me, I would do it.

[perplexed]

Never ever again, if a Dr. is to busy for us I will find another Dr. and we did.

Long story short my Dh was put on BP pills by a NP and I told her about another drug he was on,even printed info off internet and showed her where they may cause problems, she did even comment, long story short ,my Dh lost 25 lbs over the course of many months, did not know people even me and was put in two hospitals, almost died , if I had not gotten him out of this town and away from that NP and he would have died I have no doubt. Even after we were sent home from second hospital trip he was giving same drugs and got worse, One morning about 2 days after 2nd hospital trip I could not wake him up (same in both hospitals) I called my sister to come get us and we went to ER in major large city, BINGO they found out right in ER that nite he was toxic from drugs his whole body had shut down same drugs I ??? the NP about, he spent another week in that hospital and 2 weeks in a neuro rehab learning to talk and walk again and getting all that medicine out of his system , it was a blessing he lived he was so full of the drugs he had been placed on.Once all those drugs were out of him he slowly came back to me.

I know there may be good NP but I will not go to one , there is a reason there is MD on the end of a Dr's name.All I can say is if your happy see a NP and if your not see a DR.

Thanks!

[Doglover8180]

My thought is this - I prefer to see whichever one is actually going to listen to me as a patient and is the most competent. They charge several 100 dollars for each minute they are with you. Some of these doctors don't care to spend literally more then 4 minutes with a patient - and yet the bill is $600. They are racing out the door as you are asking a question. But at the same time, if I am paying the cost of a doctor, I want that nurse to have the same experience and education as that doctor - but sometimes the bedside manner is worth more then schooling. All the education in the world, doesn't do any good if a doctor can't listen and many can't anymore. They are so busy getting to the next patient, seeing the greatest volume, that they don't care about the quality of care they offer anymore. This probably has alot to do with the new regulations - to where everyone can see the doctor now, insurance or not.