Nurses Prescribing Antibiotics?

[futurehope]

The name of a female nurse has been mentioned here more than once as someone who diagnoses medical conditions based on lab results (a certain lab), dispenses abx and then follows up.

Is this person a nurse practitioner or just a nurse?

[MarthaF]

I wonder if you are referring to ****. If so, she is a licensed nurse practitioner. She has taught pharmacology on the college level and has many years of experience.

In my GP's office I see the nurse practitioner more than the MD and she prescribes for me.

I have never heard Ruth referred to as a nurse, so perhaps you are referring to someone else?

Martha F

[ICNDonna]

Normally, prescriptions are under-written by physicians. A nurse in a doctor's office may actually hand write the prescription, but the doctor is responsible.

Donna

[Romans8:28]

I went to a nurse practioner as my GP untill she moved away and loved her. They are just like a PA which works under a GP but is a full doctor not a nurse!
Shelly

[dancemomof2]

My girls see a NP at the pediatricians office most of the time because she is more down to earth with them and they feel super comfortable with her especially discussing "girly" things. I totally love them as well as PA's. They both always seem to have more time to handle what is going on and not rush us along.

[boukie]

has anyone worked with ****? She was treated by Dr. Paul Fugazzotto and was healed by him. Let me know asap!

[Claredale]

When I go to my GP, I always see a NP. My dr's office has 3 and they are all so wonderful. Nt DIL first wanted to be NP until she did her surgery rotation in nursing school and decided she wanted to be a nurse anesthetist.

[windchaser]

i also see the NP and she writes my RXs but she has to go through the DR first.. hope that helps

[snowgirl]

I went to a nurse practioner as my GP untill she moved away and loved her. They are just like a PA which works under a GP but is a full doctor not a nurse!
Shelly

Being an RN I am a big advocated of Nurse Practioners. There is a difference and someone correct me if I am wrong in the PA part her. Nurse practioners are RN's with Master's degrees. They specialize in different areas of medicine. Could be pediatrics, adult medicine etc. I am sure on this. I think NP are wonderful. You will find some of them extremely smart, kind and they spend more time with you then a MD.

A PA Physicians Assistant has a degree in bachelors before he goes to PA school. Ihave known some nurses to go on to be PA's. Then they go to college for PA- not sure how long that is and they come out with is it another bachelors degree iN PA? Someone fill me in here on the education of a PA. I know it is 4 year program and they have to have a degree in biology , nursing etc.

I have worked with both in the hospital. Now days most surgeone employee a PA or NP to do their rounds first for them or to admit patients and write orders. I have worked with both excellent PA's and NP.

However; I am still a big advocate of Nurse Practioners

VN

[dancemomof2]

When I applied to PA school in 1990 (gosh it's been that long) here in WV at Alderson Broaddus College which is our only accredited PA college, it was a 4 year bachelor's degree. It is still a 4 year program that I am seriously considering going back to finish when my youngest starts kindergarden in a couple years.I could kick myself for not starting straight out of high school because I took that year off and never went back.

[snowgirl]

Leslie,

Yes PA is a 4 year bachelor's degree program. But, before you get admitted to PA school don't you have to have a degree in biology, chemistry, nrsg. before you are accepted into the PA school.

Being a PA in a hospital is hard work. They do all the rounds and write orders there. Then they do all the new admissions for history and physical then write the orders. I know a few excellent PA's here in town. Some MD's have their own personal PA and some have their own Personal NP.

Vicky

[ICNDonna]

I think PAs are great and most are very capable. In Oregon they practice under the supervision of physicians.

Donna

[snowgirl]

All PA's and NP' must practice under an MD. We have a PA in the pain clinic he does medication checks although he can't write for class 2 narcotics. So, he sees you then goes out and get the prescription written and signed by a MD. Vicky

[snowgirl]

If I would have had any idea 22 years later as an RN I would be severe refractory IC and have to go out in disability I would have gone back to school and gotten my nurse practioner before I became disabled. I would have done that and fallen back on that instead of hospital nursing which is too hard for me to do now. VN

[lisabar36]

I love my family doc, and I also love the NP, I see her also, she is wonderful! Its nicer to see her for female issues, and see my primary doc for everything else.

[snowgirl]

When I go to my GP, I always see a NP. My dr's office has 3 and they are all so wonderful. Nt DIL first wanted to be NP until she did her surgery rotation in nursing school and decided she wanted to be a nurse anesthetist.

Excellent career for her to go into no questions there. The schooling and training are tough but I know some excellent CRNA"S. I know some CRNA that are better at doing anethesia then the anesthesiologist . The CRNA's are doing the hands on work and the MD's supervise over them going from room to room to check in with them. VN

[dancemomof2]

No Vicky, actually it is a 4 year program ending with a BA. Here is a link to the college I was and will be going to do this at if you look it explains year by year what you do to graduate int he 4 years.

http://www.ab.edu/academics/degrees/physician_assistant_studies

[Claredale]

Sorry, I was talking about the nurse anesthetist program. I hope I can spell and say it by the time she become one!

Actually it depends on the program I am guessing. My daughter-in-law is going to either University of Alabama or Sanford University and both programs are two years well actually 27 months. In order to get into either the program she had to have her RN degree. She had 2 years at Mississippi State then transferred to Mississippi College for Women, otherwise known as the "W" down south for 2 years to get her BRN. She also has to complete a year in ICU or Critical Care to be eligible for the program. She also checked into one in Richmond, VA that are interested in her. It is a very progressive program that is pretty much the leading edge of training, but she is afraid she won't get enough schlorship money as she will if she stays in AL. There are alot of people jockying for the spots. She graduated in the top 5 of her class, so she is being recruited. Vanderbilt tried to get her when she was interested in becoming a Nurse Practitioner. The actually had a very intense 1 year program where she couldn't work while going to school or it would be a 3 year program if she worked full-time and went to school. She was down to being 1 of 3 they were going to pick, but she changed her mind. There is also a good program at UT Memphis, that she checked out, but I am trying to encourage them to stay in Birmingham since they have several friends from college there and she is already familiar with UAB since she is working there and all. My son and DIL's plan is once she gets accepted and starts next fall. She took her GRE last week and already has her letters of recommendation, she will be in a 2 year program and work part-time. She will also take a few classes on-line, starting in a couple of months to get her ready for the program. I also called my best friend from high school. Her daughter has been working as a nurse at UAB for a year and a half. She has almost 1 year towards her masters but they are moving back to Memphis since her husband got a job in hospital administration at Baptist Memphis (he will finish his masters in May) at UAB. Tabitha is going to finish her masters at UT Memphis, but she was in line to finish in 3 years since she wasn't working in critical care or in the ICU. She has been working on a surgical step down unit, so she will probably get her feet wet in a hospital here first before finishing her degree. The funny thing with them is that they are going to live across the street from my friend since the people that own the house haven't had any luck selling it, so they are going to do a lease purchase with the newlyweds. I told Tammy it was very "Everyone Loves Raymond". I told my DIL that Tab wasn't going to finish her degree yet, but my dil said she wanted to get through as fast as she can so once she finishes and gets established, she wants to start her family. My son is ready now. He has always loved kids, but she has her goals and she sticks to them. After all of that and I have a grandchild, then they can move to Memphis!

Tracey

[sphinx]

A PA is not a full doctor, they go to a 4 year program and get a bachelor's degree. They do not need to go to college prior to that. A NP is a nurse who generally has a master's degree. Both practice under an MD, although each state has different guidelines for practice. I am impressed with PAs, the amount of knowledge they acquire in the amount of time they are in school. I have worked with some amazing PAs. I have had doctors with good PAs as well as bad ones.

I tend to like NPs, maybe because I am a nurse, I don't know. I find their approach is different, I'm not sure how to point my finger on it.

Both can specialize, although I am not sure if PAs starting specializing in school, or after. I know where I used to work we had PAs in our surgical intensive care, that was their specialty. They also have urology PAs, etc. NPs can get different sorts of NP "degrees", such as family nurse practitioner, geriatric nurse practitioner, etc. There are also other types of "advance practice nurses", like nurse anesthetists (CRNA), certified nurse midwives, etc.

In my state, both PAs and NPs can prescribe, but do so under a MD license.

[LeeAnn]

I love NP's and PA's...they aren't in a huge rush like most doctors are and they seem genuinely interested in you as a person.......When I was *finally* diagnosed w/ IC, it was because a NP referred me to a urologist-----after COUNTLESS doctors had made me feel crazy and like my pain was all in my head. Thank god for nurses!!