Professional: Doctor Nurses...

Bad idea.

In our zeal to increase the number of healthcare providers in the field, the system is creating (or for doctors, we're allowing them to create) a shortcut that may alleviate the crunch in the short term but will ultimately be a problem for everyone.

As it stands nurses can become practitioners and essentially train independently. We've seen the results of this in our community and half the time, it ain't pretty. I can only imagine what someone with less than half the training of physicians will do when they are free to "act as primary care physicians."

What a statement! I can't even believe that they allowed something that outta control to be published.

I could go on and on and on about what a bad idea that is but the proof will be in the pudding. When they start dealing with drug seekers and lawsuits. When they get the sick patients who come in to their clinics on death's door and they don't know what to do.

So bring 'em on; I don't foresee them making much of an impact in my future practice and that's one of the reasons I just let this whole idea slide...