Roles of Medical Doctors & Nurse Practitioners

This research paper will present an overview of the NP and MD with regard to their different roles and whether these roles involve supervision, collaboration, cooperation, or all three. Included in this discussion will be the following topics: health care delivery, history and current status of NP roles; NP and MD roles; NP and MD collaboration; NP independence and MD opposition; implications and future hopes for the NP; and conclusions.

Health Care Delivery, History & Current Status of NP Roles

Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, and Sochalski (2001) state that currently there is a nursing shortage, and hospital nurses are reporting job dissatisfaction. Nurses worldwide are reporting uneven quality of hospital care (U.S., Canada, England, Scotland, and Germany). The authors state that the competence of NPs and MDs and the relationships between the two appear to be satisfactory, however core problems are reported which must be resolved to preserve patient care and safety. The inadequate staffing of nurses and lack of care are being blamed on the growth of managed care and other problems such as hospital competition and reduced Medicare hospital payments.

The American health-care system has become a managed care

marketplace. Changes in health care can be found in the financial and organizational levels. Costs are escalating with annual health care spending in the United States increasing. Multi-institutional provider networks are causing organizational changes. Efforts to

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do and patients are reporting greater satisfaction with nurse care. Nurses are also doing more consultations over the phone and reducing hospital admissions and costs. Nurses appear to be changing their roles and practices and it is argued that this is resulting in the sacrifice of traditional nursing values. Nurses are reporting that although they are more educated and assertive than before, they are continuing to feel put down by doctors; doctors are resentful of being undervalued regarding their competence and knowledge. Along with these changes, the public has become more educated and now demands more information and care. When afraid, however, they still pursue the old style doctor for comfort, thus some conclude that although the NP and MD may be arguing about their roles, they still have not changed (Davies, Salvage, & Smith, 1999). NP & MD Collaboration NPs and MDs must continue to work together, thus communication remains important. Flynn and Ricca (2000) report that nurses still need to assess and communicate the patient's needs. Therefore the NP and MD must respect each other as professionals and communicate information clearly, with quality rather than territorialism as a priority. Whether or not roles are b

Category: Medical - R