There is still need to advocate and champion for lifting of such restrictions and to make sure that APNs are positioned in ways that allow them to receive equal reimbursement for similar services.

Gretell Alfonso Discussion 6

 

Top of Form

Being in the health care profession for 3 years now has given me a better idea as to what role each health care professional has. However, at the beginning of my nursing career I was a bit confused as to what the difference was between a medical doctor and a nurse practitioner aside from the obvious amount of schooling years. I have witnessed that nurse practitioners evaluate patients just how a medical doctor would, therefore making the difference a bit harder to be obvious. After 3 years in the nursing profession I can definitely point out the differences between a medical doctor and a nurse practitioner. A medical doctor goes to school for a longer time compared to a nurse practitioner and they aren’t nurses. A nurse practitioner is a nurse with a higher degree that is able to treat patients and evaluate them as well. I think that nurse practitioners shouldn’t be paid as much as doctors because that would take a lot of the doctors credit and professional work away but I do believe that they should be payed more then what they are getting payed now. The reason why I think that nurse practitioners should get payed more then what they are getting payed at the moment is because nurse practitioners today are health care providers that evaluate patients in many different settings, evaluate patients in a doctors office and hospitals, order treatments and are responsible for many more tasks as well. Also, doctors are basically being relieved or covered in their practices and offices by a nurse practitioner when they aren’t around to make decisions for their clients in emergencies or certain situations. Therefore, although nurse practitioners and medical doctors work together I don’t believe that they. should be billing a nurse practitioners work by billing through a medical doctors license, instead I believe that nurse practitioners should be payed more then what they are getting payed currently.

Bottom of Form

Eduardo Soto Quinones

 

Advanced practice nurses play a very important role in the health care delivery system. They occupy a pivotal point that actually makes the difference in health care today, yet they have to deal with equality when it comes to payment. They have to deal with significant bureaucracy and politics that indeed prevent them from practicing in an effective manner. Studies have shown that APNs are able to offer care that is actually comparable with that offered by physicians in as far as safety and quality is concerned (Woo, Lee & San, 2017). This is a very important consideration when considering the positioning of APNs in regard to pay. APNs have also been allowed in many states to practice independently and the effects of this move can be seen. According to the Institute of Medicine, nurses need to be allowed to practice without restrictions. They need to be allowed to practice to the full extent of their education, skills and expertise (IoM, 2011). This is a recommendation that will help in offsetting issues and challenges regarding safety and quality of care especially due to the shortage of nurses.

Therefore, as APNs position themselves in the field of practice, they should not settle for less. They need to demand for equal pay for the same amount of work as well as qualifications. The same service offered by anyone as a provider should be paid in the same manner. Any forms of restrictions prevent APNs to perform to their best. The fact that APNs can practice over a wide scope is an advantage to the health care delivery system. However, bureaucrats fail to see this and most APNs still have restrictions on their scope, let alone on matters pertaining to reimbursement. There is still need to advocate and champion for lifting of such restrictions and to make sure that APNs are positioned in ways that allow them to receive equal reimbursement for similar services.

 

 

References

Institute of Medicine (US). Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press

Woo, B. F. Y., Lee, J. X. Y., & San Tam, W. W. (2017). The impact of the advanced practice nursing role on quality of care, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost in the emergency and critical care settings: a systematic review. Human resources for health15(1), 63

Get 15% discount on your first order with us
Use the following coupon
FIRST15

Order Now