The issue if APN's are practicing nursing vs medicine is moot. Everyone knows that they are practicing medicine. Even many APN's will freely admit to it.
I hope that the recent AMA resolutions regarding the DNP are just the beginning. So much more needs to be done than just passing resolutions. I hope that the medical groups begin to really scrutinize the competencies of NP's by doing studies, evaluating their curriculum, etc. If they do studies on residency competencies, why can't they do it for autonomous NP's? For too long, medical groups have done nothing while the NP's have lobbied for more rights without proving their safety. There are too much anecdotal evidence about the questionable competencies of practicing NP's for the medical groups to simply ignore how much a safety risk autonomous NP's represent to the public. Well-designed studies need to be done. The boards of nursing, through their conflict of interest, have done little to regulate NP's. That's why the medical boards with their proven track record of training and disciplining medical professionals needs to oversee all groups who practice any form of medicine.
Wow, it sounds to me like you are truly misinformed and very threatened by APN's. First let me say there is still room for physicians in the primary care market, so even though patient satisfaction is high with those who seek ANP's physicians do a good job too.
Second and most importantly, the AMA has no regulatory authority over nursing practice.
Third, there are no studies to suggest that NP's do not give high quality care. If there were evidence-based studies, you would have these posted under your incorrect account for how many hours DNP's must have for program completion. Anecdotal stories do much to undermine your position yet the lack of citing references speaks volumes to your assertions' lack of credibility. In case you are unaware, state boards of nursing are in place to protect the consumer-not the profession. You may have got this confused with professional associations, such as the AMA, that tends to spin facts a bit, or produce resolutions by which are not supported by evidence.
Fourth, you state the medical community has done very little to limit APN practice. In fact, the medical community has done much to abate the progress of ANP's and ANP practice. Again your lack of recognition of the very AMA resolutions you cite speaks volumes of your flawed understanding of how much the medical community has rallied against APN practice, yet despite all, APN's and nursing grows. Now APN's (like physicians) have a terminal, clinical-based doctorate degree too.
Fifth, you are correct in stating that ANP's have a powerful lobby. This is why APN autonomy continues to grow far outside of the control of the medical establishment. Patient satisfaction and outcomes, however underpin why this is occurring, despite overwhelming opposition from the well-intentioned, yet misinformed medical community, present company accepted.
Lastly, I predict you will see a paradigm shift from the medical establishments rhetoric that you champion so well. The transition will go from "Physicians provide higher quality care than APN's. APN's just aint safe" as it is today to a future position, "Physicians are just as good as APN's. Come back to us for your primary care needs
.Please. We have 8 years of schooling, just like APN's. We promise we'll spend more than 3.4 minutes with you per visit."
The sooner you come to a realization that APN's are not going anywhere accept for up in the hierarchy of the health care community, the sooner you can focus on your own profession and what it means to be a part of the community in stead of being the only part.
-Dick
