The Nurse Will See You Now
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Nurse practitioners, the fastest-growing profession in the country, often provide care when physicians are in short supply, but the care provided by NPs may pose risks to patients due to a lack of standardized educational criteria and clinical training requirements. Medical doctors have raised concerns about the quality of NP education and the fact that many states allow NPs with Doctor of Nursing degrees to call themselves doctors.
Below is a synopsis of the first part of The Nurse Will See You Now, a Bloomberg series documenting how the increasing reliance on ill-trained nurse practitioners is imperiling US patients.
The Nurse Will See You Now: Impact of Relying on Nurse Practitioners
The rise in reliance on nurse practitioners (NPs) over doctors in medical settings across the U.S. raises significant concerns. Highlighted by the tragic case of Fred Bedell, who died after receiving inadequate care from an inexperienced NP, this issue underscores the potential dangers of poorly trained NPs in critical care situations. Bedell’s story is part of an extensive trend documented in “The Nurse Will See You Now,” which examines how the surge in NP programs, many of which offer primarily online education, may not adequately prepare NPs for the complexities of patient care.
Increasing Numbers and Concerns
With over 300,000 NPs practicing and numbers expected to rise by 45% by 2032, the disparity between NPs and doctors is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the ratio of NPs to doctors has dramatically shifted from 1:5 in 2014 to 1:2.75 last year. It raises concerns about the quality of care, especially for complex cases.
Educational and Training Challenges
The variation in NP education, particularly the prevalence of online programs with limited clinical experience, is a critical issue. Unlike the standardized, extensive training medical doctors undergo, NPs’ clinical training is often brief and variable in quality. This has led to significant risks, as seen in Bedell’s case and other instances where inadequate training resulted in severe patient harm.
