Nurse Practitioner

[tommy]

My cardio was called away today from ny routine appointment, so I was seen by his NP. Anybody ever heard of this?

The story goes back to March when the cardio's office called a week prior to my regular 6-month appointment and asked to be pushed of to the end of May - 10 weeks. I got 10 days chopped off and had my appointment today. I was assured that if I had problem, I could be seen earlier.

Apparently, the hospital that the cardio is attached to has just upgraded their cardiac wing and he is in greater demand in the hospital. I had a choice to see the NP or wait 2 months to see the cardio. I have gotten pretty close to his staff and had a frank discussion with the head nurse. If 8-9 months is okay, why do we keep scheduling every 6 months? If it's gonna be a NP everytime, please tell me. I have trouble with unknowns (especially when the are unnecessary), and with changes (again, especailly when unnecessary).

Also, the group is consolidating it's five offices into one new larger office with the latest and greatest equipment. The move is fine with me, but are the business people taking over the practice?

The NP was terrific, but it just wasn't the same. Is the use of nurse practioners a trend or just an anomaly? Anybody's thoughts? Experience?

 

[Marge]

<< My cardio was called away today from ny routine appointment, so I was seen by his NP. Anybody ever heard of this? >>

When I went in for my first post-surgery cardiology appointment I saw his nurse practitioner, rather than the cardio himself. This was four weeks after the surgery. I know the cardio was around, because she checked with him on a couple of the questions I asked.

But I knew I was going to see her. Also it was going to be a pretty routine appt, I had been having no problems with mty recovery, so it was OK. I've never had any problems with seeing nurse practitioners in other medical fields, so I figured why not a cardio nurse practitioner who's trained for cardiology. I agree they should tell you ahead of time who you are going to see. About a month later I had another appt with the cardio himself.

I like nurse practitioners. I respect their level of training and often they're more willing to sit down and explain stuff than MD's. For a long time my gynecologist has been a nurse practitioner and I've been very satisfied -- my last GYN appointment she wasn't available -- I had to see a "real" doctor instead and I wasn't too happy.

 

[hensylee]

My cardio's NP arranged with me for the surgery. He gave me all the info and called me a few times. My bro and I go to see the cardio at the same time. First time, the cardio allotted us each 10 mins. Bro went in first and they asked me if I'd like to see the NP. I said yes. Bro was dumped out in 10 mins. The NP talked with me for about 30 minutes. If there had been something he couldn't handle or if I wanted, he'd have brought in the cardio, but it was not necessary. I have seen the NP every single time since then.

 

[Nancy]

Joe sees his card's NP for the first part of the visit. But she is also the one we interface with when he has any problems and she's the one who checks his labs. She is very, very good and very, very careful. I can call her with questions or email her. Works for us. I think it's a good thing if the NP is good. We have also worked very closely with the surgical PAs. Excellent experience there as well.

 

[Granbonny]

Tom

Tom

Same thing with me..my cardio used to be in a 5 room office..We could all chat at same time Me, him , his clinical nurse, ect...and lo and behold..They moved over to our new Heart wing. I go down for my last 6 month checkup to be told I was a day early Seems moving thru them all out of whack..computers, ect. I had to wait another month..He was so nice..that I never brought it up..He spends whatever time I want. Told me on last visit.. Laughing at me and said..wait..I'm the doctor and you are the patient.. In his new offfice (huge) he has brought in 3 new Cards. Nurse that booked me for next 6 month checkup..told me he would only see his OLD patients in the future. He is head of Cath of hearts at hospital now..Only taking us old timers on Tuesdays. I love my Cardio..He saved my life.. I also love the idea of seeing him every 6 months. I think I would go bonkers waiting a year to see him. All is fine with me..Just want to hear it from him...Bonnie

 

[Mary]

Sorry, I'm going to disagree about the NP. My husband has worked in critical care for 25 years and our hospital's new neonatal CCU is staffed with two neonatolgists with a NP to aid them. His assessment is that the nurse practitioner is good in a noncritical area of medical care, but not in areas such as cardiology or neurosurgery.
This is bad for me since my new cardiologist has just gone into practice for himself and although he is trying to recruit several new doctors, he hasn't yet and he will have two nurse practitioners in his practice.
I think the real kicker is there is no difference in price between the two. If I'm going to see a NP, I want the office visit to be reduced. It seems to me that since a NP hasn't invested as much money, time or education in the practice of medicine as the MD, they shouldn't be compensated at the same rate.
However, my daughter goes to my PCP's nurse practitioner; I go to the PCP. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[Guest]

*raises eyebrow*

Hmmm...I know the feeling of not being able to see your own cardiologist...lol. But...I was seen by another cardiologist.

The only time I've met with a Nurse Practitioner was during my 2-week (or so) follow-up after I left the hospital following my January 2003 surgery. The NP examined me, rather than the surgeon. I then went to see my regular cardiologist a few weeks (month or so?) after that appointment.

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[Karlynn]

My cardio had a nurse practioner for about 6 months. She gave me some really bad advice on Coumadin, which I knew enough to not follow. My last check-up, she wasn't there. My cardio's comment was that "It didn't work out."

Much like anyone in the medical field, a good one is worth their weight in gold, a bad one is an accident waiting to happen. I would hope that if your Dr. has had the same one for a while, you can pretty much trust that they are competant enough to handle routine office visits and triage problems. Any problems I would assume they would pass on to the doctor and then he/she would see you.

 

[ericaj]

strange

strange

My cardio also has a couple of NP's at his clinic and I havent had any problems with them.. Usually the nurse takes you back, does her thing, then the NP comes in and goes over everything, goes out talks to my cardio and then my cardio comes in.. This makes sense to me as it seems like I get everything covered and also like they all work together to make a really nice team. Until I moved this past Aug. I had seen a Family NP and she was great,
always coordinated all my care, wasnt afraid to refer me out and seemed to really, realy care + she took as much time as I needed at every appt. and always called + followed up on how I was doing + helped me to schedule all my appt. with the many drs. I seen for a few years there. Now I seen a regular female MD but she is also great and I love her as she always takes as much times as i'd like + answers all my calls and coordinates my care. So I guess it depends on the luck of the draw with drs. as I have been seen by a few here and there that I didnt neccessarily like a whole lot.

what a crazy world this is.

Erica

 

[medtronic of borg]

Np

Np

NP's are great and have been on the increase for the last ten years. They have a msn or phd and are very capabable of monitoring a patient. I see mine every month now.

Med