I work in a hospitalist program currently staffed with 3 M.D. hospitalists and 3 N.P.'s.  We work 7 on/7 off and rotate the night rotation (1 week out of 6).  We also have one internist and one family practice M.D. joining us weekly, who only work day shift.  Each provider, including the N.P.'s, has his/her own caseload they follow throughout the hospitalization, and we share admissions/consults as we get them.  We (meaning N.P.'s) have the same number of patients as each M.D. on the team.  We are treated no differently but have the benefit of a back-up M.D. should questions/problems arise.