NPs & PAs Are Talking – NPs & Nurse Veterans, New PA Organization, Primary Care
Have you visited our blogs lately? Last week, new NPs and nurse veterans battled on the value of floor experience. Our NP & PA Student blogger Terry Clarke, currently enrolled in a fast track NP program, expressed his views on what experienced nurses have going for them and what they still have to learn. Here are a few of the comments your fellow clinicians shared. Weigh in while the conversation is still hot!
- "A recent education provided by instructors who have spent the last 20 or more years wandering through the cloistered and privileged groves of academe may not have prepared the student for the ‘real world'." - Dan
- "I sympathize with nurses in fast-track programs because for the first year or so on the floor working as an RN, I always felt less-than as other RNs rolled their eyes when I told them about my professional track." - Tara
- "Please don't assume that just because I am a twenty year veteran of nursing, that I haven't continued my education and that my knowledge is twenty years out of date." - Donna
- "Nurses please stop eating your young ones. Not everyone is going to be great at what he/she does, but there is always at least one person that makes a difference." - Andy
- "I wholeheartedly agree with those who believe there should be a minimum of RN experience prior to an NP program." - Susan
In PA news, clinicians are sharing their thoughts on the new PA organization, PAs for Tomorrow. One reader is signing up for membership. Are you on board? "I couldn't agree with you more about how we are NOT being represented appropriately. I have been very vocal myself at PA forums concerning recertification and I can tell you that the NCCPA is doing whatever they feel like without any regard to the wishes of the PA body as a whole. To make matters worse, the AAPA is COMPLETELY in the NCCPA's pocket. I really hope this newly formed organization can truly represent us and make a difference," said reader James. We'll have more information in the November issue of ADVANCE for NPs & PAs and online next month. Stay tuned and let us know what you think of the new group!
Spanning both disciplines, on LinkedIn last week, one reader shared an article: "Providing primary care for the poor: Nurse practitioners and physician assistants stand ready to meet the challenge, again." Here's what LinkedIn group members had to say:
- "The sub-districts and rural clinics in Africa are mainly run by PAs and nurses. So, more specialization opportunities should be open for us all so that we give the best, efficient and accurate care to patients." - Ismael
- "They don't pay [NPs and PAs] that well [in Africa] which is unfortunate." - Rickae
If you're not chatting with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, "like", "follow" and "connect" with us and start sharing in the conversations! If you are, keep following and spread the word.