I like to be in control of my health. I do research on my conditions and my medications and pay attention to my body. One of the most important roles of a medical practitioner to me is to provide guidance in decision making and answer my questions. A NP is often better at this aspect of medical care.

Anonymous wrote:I am an NP and I would generally prefer to see the doctor. But at the same time I have had many missed diagnoses by MD's. The bottom line is: see someone you are comfortable with, someone you are comfortable asking questions to, and someone you find to be competent. That being said, I have had a positive experience seeing a PA at the OB/GYN office and was really impressed with her knowledge. I know several really good and intelligent PA's that I would rather see over some physicians.

I'm an NP as well and I always seen physicians except for VERY simple things like strep throat, pap smears, etc.
It's sad but honestly I don't have a great deal of confidence in my own profession. There are some GREAT NPs but also many, many bad ones who are incredibly undertrained My husband is an internist (MD) and he trained for 7 years. I trained for 18 months. These days, you can become an NP online. Enough said.

I'm fine with most NPs, but if I don't think the NP is quick enough to bring in a doctor, then I get the dr and don't see him/her anymore.

Anonymous wrote:I am a Physician Assistant and I prefer you ask ahead of time. Everyone has preferences for all sorts of reasons. The worst is when someone gets to see me and is bummed they are not seeing the doctor.

Just ask--no hard feelings where I work.

Do you prefer to see the doctor or will you be comfortable seeing a PA/NP? and not for something routine but for a new symptom you had? (not strep or UTI)

I am a Physician Assistant and I prefer you ask ahead of time. Everyone has preferences for all sorts of reasons. The worst is when someone gets to see me and is bummed they are not seeing the doctor.

Just ask--no hard feelings where I work.

Anonymous wrote:Not that it's all about money, but aren't I being billed the same whether I see an MD or a NP? Shouldn't I wish to see the more highly qualified person for that price?

For the vast majority of reasons my child or I see a doctor, a NP is just as qualified. I don't think you need to be an MD to be able to diagnose strep throat or a urinary tract infection. Heck, I can diagnose my own UTI with a home kit. All I need is someone to write the prescription.

"I would prefer that my child be seen by the doctor since we are paying the same for an office visit, and there is obviously an advantage to someone who has advanced education and experience on medical issues that may be affecting children (or anyone, but for this example it's children)."

This is really short-sighted. Sometimes NPs are better at things than doctors - doing a pap, listening well and giving instructions, doing some procedures that nurses rather than docs tend to do (shots, IVs). Other times, you do want the expertise of a doc, though I think that in some cases a NP withe 15 years of experience is far better than a doc just out of residency.

Welcome to Obama-care. Nurse practitioners will be replacing doctors in the next decade. One doctor will manage 10 NPs

Anonymous wrote:I've had far better experiences with NP. I have found them to be very experienced and knowledgeable. .

Me too. I prefer to see the NP.

I wouldn't neccessarily have a preference except we've had bad experiences with the NP at my son's ped office, so I try to avoid seeing her whenever possible.

Not that it's all about money, but aren't I being billed the same whether I see an MD or a NP? Shouldn't I wish to see the more highly qualified person for that price?

I am an NP and I would generally prefer to see the doctor. But at the same time I have had many missed diagnoses by MD's. The bottom line is: see someone you are comfortable with, someone you are comfortable asking questions to, and someone you find to be competent. That being said, I have had a positive experience seeing a PA at the OB/GYN office and was really impressed with her knowledge. I know several really good and intelligent PA's that I would rather see over some physicians.

Anonymous wrote:In 7 years at my current gyno's office, I have seen the doctor once and a NP 8 times. For a simple pap or "hey, my bc is making me nauseous" I don't need the doctor, and she's usually busy with emergency patients. I am abnormally attached to my GP though because I've had him since I was 2 and he knows me and my history and my family history first hand.

That's a long time to not have had a physical exam by an actual doctor. What if there are other things visible during your exam that the NP is missing?

In 7 years at my current gyno's office, I have seen the doctor once and a NP 8 times. For a simple pap or "hey, my bc is making me nauseous" I don't need the doctor, and she's usually busy with emergency patients. I am abnormally attached to my GP though because I've had him since I was 2 and he knows me and my history and my family history first hand.

Yep, primary MD missed my dad's lung cancer. Hello, coughing for a year and chest pain in a specific location? No xray until he coughed up blood?