andersenpa Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 from clinician reviews: http://www.clinicianreviews.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=zC5UVK9OMCQ=&FullText=1 SUPPORT (AND CAUTION) FROM AN NP TO PAs I am a nurse practitioner who applauds your discussions regarding a name change in the PA profession. It may be true that some change in your title could be advantageous to the profession, but I feel compelled to ask: At what cost? I have been a nurse for 35 years and have seen a fair amount of change, discussion of change, backlash from change, political disruption secondary to change, and the ever-present reversal of change. I agree with nurse practitioner Lesa Walker (Clinician Reviews. 2011;21[11]:5-6), who said she is often asked, “So you are like a PA?” This is telling. The public has come to accept the definition of “PA” as a standard in health care delivery. In years past, it was not unusual to hear patients say, “I want to talk to a ‘real doctor’” (ie, not an NP or a PA). That has largely changed. I hear comments every day that indicate to me that patients would rather see an NP for certain things than to see their physician. They have come to understand the function of the NP and the additional attention they can often derive by seeing someone who practices a little differently than an MD does. They also know when to see a physician and access that particular set of skills. I think the same is true for the PA. You have graduated from an “unknown” to a formidable factor in health care delivery. People know you as “PA,” and they understand your function enough that the “assistant” attached to your name is irrelevant in the care you provide, the suffering you ease, and the healing you contribute to. Please do not further confuse the public as to your identity just when they have come to know who you are and appreciate what you do. The health care delivery system is already complex enough for the public (and more so for the elderly, the infirm, and the disenfranchised). Your identity is cemented and your name is known not by the “assistant” nomenclature attached, but by your deeds. Spend your valuable time increasing your practice parameters, reimbursement, prescriptive authority, and access to patients in need, not seeking better recognition for self. As you have already seen, recognition will come with excellence in practice—not changes in title. William Gause, MSN, ANP, Colton, CA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted March 20, 2012 Moderator Share Posted March 20, 2012 BUT we would still be PA's...... their arguement really does not work as it is a more behind the scene change then changing our name - no one is advocating for a total name change - just getting rid of the 'assistant' part silly I think to say not to change over the fear of change or change itself.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taotaox1 Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 I am going to second Ventana on this one, the NPs argument is only truly valid if we were to change to something that changed the initials. Also, as an English major that studied a lot of rhetoric, semantics, and semiotics (and worked in advertising/production) I would also take issue with her complete dismissal of the power of labeling. It pretty much flies in the face of ALL modern branding and advertising research. That's right, research. The power of stuff like this can be proved by hard, measurable science that has been done over the past 50 years. There is a reason companies just in the US spend BILLIONS of dollars a year carefully crafting their identities. GM alone spends 100 million or so.... and you certainly wont be driving a GM Assistant anytime soon, I can promise you that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Not to mention her article admits the "assistant" is a total misnomer. And despite what she thinks many, many people still are clueless as to what a PA is, and to these people, when we explain what it stands for, are set up to become even more misguided. I'd like to see NPs names be "Nursing Practitioner Assistant" or something of the likes, then I'm sure they'd have a totally different story. Of course this is just one person's opinion (hers and mine). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Of course a practitioner doesn't see the big deal about an assistant. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeyball Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Maybe it's just me but I find that a NP telling the PA profession what they should or should not focus on is incredibly arrogant. I think we're capable of assessing our own priorities, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 A little hypocritical from one in a profession trying to change their name to "Doctor." Whatever.... Its not like we change our name and sit on our @$$es on the other issues.... Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 A little hypocritical from one in a profession trying to change their name to "Doctor." Whatever.... Its not like we change our name and sit on our @$$es on the other issues.... Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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