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A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by NurEmperor(m): 2:56am On Nov 01, 2016
Academic Medicine , journal of
the American Association of
Medical Colleges, has sent out a
recent call for articles addressing
the 2013 question of the year:


“What is a doctor? What is a
nurse?” Thirty years ago this
would have been an absurd
question. Not only would it have
been absurd for doctors and
nurses, but for patients too.
Roles were clearly delineated
within the disciplines, and the
white coat indicated a doctor
and the white uniform and cap
identified the nurse.

There are several reasons why
we have to ask the question
posed by Academic Medicine . A
big reason is the entry of women
into the field of medicine.
Another is the development of
advanced degrees for nurses. The
computerization of medical
records has spurred increases
the need for physician extenders
to support practices. A huge
reason recently has been cost-
containment considerations. The
erosion of the doctor as an
ultimate authority figure and
the rise of patient autonomy
have leveled the field as well. To
some extent access to education
is in the mix also.

Educational level is usually part
of the definition of a doctor or
nurse. This is no longer a
reliable indicator. A doctor has
an undergraduate degree and an
MD. But a doctor might be a DO
also, a doctor of osteopathic
medicine. A nurse has an
undergraduate degree in
nursing. Except that a nurse
might have an undergraduate
degree in something other than
nursing, and get the nursing
training later in a master’s
degree program. Up until
relatively recently you didn’t
have to have a BSN to be a nurse,
an associates degree was
enough. Now a nurse might
have a master’s degree or a PhD.

A nurse practitioner has a
master’s degree. A physicians
assistant might also.
Authority used to be used to
separate doctors from nurses.
Doctors can prescribe medicines.
But now so can many advanced-
practice nurses. Doctors can
write orders. So can nurse
practitioners. Doctors can
examine you and diagnose you.
So does your NP.

Nurses and doctors used to look
different. The physical
appearance and dress of nurses
and doctors in hospitals today is
actually emblematic of the
blurring of the lines of identity
that have characterized
medicine in recent years. A
doctor might wear scrubs; a
nurse practitioner might wear a
white coat; in the operating
room, everybody wears the
same thing. Clothing has long
been a tangible symbol of
turbulent times. The casting off
of corsets was a signal of
relaxing social restrictions. The
shock of a woman wearing pants
coincided with women entering
the workforce. Burning bras
were a way of protesting gender
inequality. It is no accident that
the shedding of the nurses cap
happened around the same time
nurses became college educated.
Lifestyle and money? Nope. A
primary care doctor makes less
than a nurse anesthetist. Some
doctors don’t take call anymore,
and many nurses do, even those
without advanced degrees.

Surely knowledge, skill, and
ability separate nurses from
doctors? Of course not. Your
experienced floor nurse knows
way more about medicine than
your average intern.
Physicians
assistants can sew up wounds
and assist in surgery. A person
who becomes a nurse is just as
smart as a person who becomes
a doctor, which has always been
true but not always
acknowledged. An MD is just a
piece of paper that gives a
person permission to start
learning how to be an actual
doctor. An RN is much the same.


Clinical experience and training
are the only things that matter
materially to patients. Some
argue that training level is also
part of the definitional
differences between doctors and
nurses. Doctor’s clinical training
in a formal educational system
is usually longer. So you could
equivocally say that a doctor has
longer training.

I would suggest to my readers
that the only thing that truly
separates doctors from nurses is
ultimate responsibility. The
editor of Academic Medicine says
in his introductory remarks
introducing the question that his
daughter was trying to decide
between medicine and nursing.
This is the decision she must
make. Does she want to live
with the ultimate responsibility
for every patient under her
care? Because of our investment
of time and money, and
presumably because of the
economic and social standing
granted to us, we doctors bear
this ultimate burden. This is not
to say that nurses don’t also
have a responsibility to their
patients and their field, or that
they haven’t invested just as
much time and money.

I have been both a nurse and a
doctor, and am a huge
proponent of the expanded role
of nurse practitioners. But the
law and society have laid the
ultimate privilege and burden
on the person that people call
“doctor.” That’s the difference.



source
http://forum.facmedicine.com/threads/the-only-thing-that-truly-separates-doctors-from-nurses.19294/

19 Likes 6 Shares

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by ishayaauta(m): 3:05am On Nov 01, 2016
Hmmm
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by chuksbogus2001: 5:05am On Nov 01, 2016
I strongly concur .this write up is for the mature minds

16 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by NurEmperor(m): 6:33am On Nov 01, 2016
chuksbogus2001:
I strongly concur .this write up is for the mature minds
Real matured minds my bro.

10 Likes 1 Share

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by NurEmperor(m): 7:00am On Nov 01, 2016
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1 Like

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by HRich(m): 7:13am On Nov 01, 2016
Happy New Month Beautiful people. May God continue to bless and keep us. May His face continue to shine upon us and may His will be done.

12 Likes 1 Share

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by Marvel1206: 7:13am On Nov 01, 2016
Ok.
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by mizzpweety(f): 7:13am On Nov 01, 2016
Of course
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by RentALodge: 7:13am On Nov 01, 2016
This rivalry is very unnecessary and often contribute to the problems of our already poor healthcare system. In the hospital, doctors make important, but relatively few decisions, including which medication a patient receives and when they’ll be discharged. Nurses make dozens of decisions that come up each shift about every possible aspect of a patient’s care: whether a patient’s condition is deteriorating, whether to administer an “as needed” medication, when to evict a disruptive visitor. They are partners, not foes. Let's leave it like that.

**If you are a student and you would like to work for RentALodge as a RentALodge contact in your school, see the signature for address. We are recruiting for all schools in Nigeria.**

9 Likes 2 Shares

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by teepsee(f): 7:13am On Nov 01, 2016
Please that write up is too long jowi.
What is my business with nurse and doctors.

3 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by Turks: 7:14am On Nov 01, 2016
Can a hospital run effectively without nurses? No..The synergy I needed.
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by takenadoh: 7:14am On Nov 01, 2016
are we still on this nurses and doctors thing



The roles are different, if you want to study Medicine please do so, if Nursing is your calling do same.



its similar in engineering where the technicians will claim they know more than the Engineers.


Please a Nurse is a Nurse and a Doctor is a Doctor.


two different courses and different trainings/ responsibilities.

41 Likes 2 Shares

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by Lagusta(m): 7:15am On Nov 01, 2016
You all should remember that this article is talking about AMERICAN NURSES and NURSE PRACTICIONERS, who are nurses that have undergone advanced training to the extent that they can now diagnose common ailments and prescribe drugs, since doctors are scarce everywhere....

Please NEVER compare a foreign trained nurse to one nurse that finished from school of nursing.....

The only nurses I really give respect and regards are the graduate nurses, they went to the university, did a five year course, learned the real art and practice of nursing, there their training can be at par with the American nurses...

All other auxiliaries and those lazy "school of nursing" nurses need to take a chill pill......

41 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by Emeskhalifa(m): 7:16am On Nov 01, 2016
Reminds me of Nurse Metuh grin

2 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by harffie(m): 7:16am On Nov 01, 2016
Nice piece

1 Like

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by MrHighSea: 7:17am On Nov 01, 2016
Who find cure for any incurable disease na im b doctor. Wu make d carrier of such disease no gree leave hospital quick quick na im b nurse.

2 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by Lovelynature(m): 7:18am On Nov 01, 2016
O yes

1 Like

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by Nnamso91: 7:18am On Nov 01, 2016
nice post OP
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by Ballajide: 7:19am On Nov 01, 2016
Turks:
Can a hospital run effectively without nurses? No..The synergy I needed.


Wonderful... Feeling
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by TroubleMaker47(m): 7:19am On Nov 01, 2016
Lies!
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by TheSuperNerd(m): 7:20am On Nov 01, 2016
"The Experienced Floor Nurse knows way more about medicine than the average Intern"
...........

Yep.... I have always supported that thought because it's so true generally. smiley

I'm no nurse but I have come to appreciate the whole perspective of healthcare. smiley

...........


Doctors need nurses. Nurses need Doctors too. It's a whole team effort.

You wanna know a very good and awesome doctor? It's that Doctor that the nurses have genuine respect (not fear) for.

If as a doctor, your nurses don't really regard you, then my friend, you gotta problem.

..........

The "in-depth knowledge" and in some cases "Theatre and in-depth diagnosis skills" is what actually separates the doctors from the nurses.... But nurses with advanced degrees and very good experience can also give great diagnosis as good as any super knowledgeable doc...smiley #Fact

Well trained Nurses also are generally very good researchers and can sometimes put up a better research approach to a medical case than some doctors.

And hey! In Nigeria for instance, what we see most times is the Doctor rolling in, taking a look at the patient chart, spending few minutes with the patient to observe and then he jots a few notes and gbam!!! Off he goes... Sometimes it works good but at other times, that's just plain silly.

It is the Nurse who spends time observing and watching changes in the patient and alerts the doctor to those changes.
In Intensive care, it's the nurse taking note of changes in levels of different blood parameters and more in the patient's system.... What most doctors do is just act on what the nurses have observed.

WE SHOULD BE APPRECIATIVE OF THE NURSES AND THE STRESS THEY GO THROUGH TO PROVIDE CARE FOR THE WHOLE MAN.
...............


Here's a final drop to ponder:

Nurses are taught most of the Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology and many more just like we Doctors/young Docs..... And then they are taught actual "Nursing" as pertaining whole/complete patient care.

But Docs are taught Anatomy all the way up to medical ethics and surgery, medicine and more BUT NO SINGLE CLASS ON "NURSING" as pertaining whole patient care... #foodForThought

Let's learn to appreciate the role of all in healthcare... We are a team even though we know the Specialist Doctor is the leader of any healthcare team as pertaining patient care.... But let's not always make it so obvious. IT'S FOR HUMANITY WE TOOK THIS OATH, NOT FOR POWER TUSSLE. smiley

#peace

33 Likes 6 Shares

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by slowbreeze(f): 7:21am On Nov 01, 2016
The age-long argument...I belong to one side of d coin & I keep on saying dis,both nurses and drs are in a symbiotic relationship..Each one has dia unique responsibility in healthcare ,work together and shouldnt be in competition with one another.Any nurse or Dr dat keeps bringing up dis topic/argument has got serrrrrious complex problems and needs professional help.Like seriously!!

13 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by takenadoh: 7:24am On Nov 01, 2016
slowbreeze:
The age-long argument...I belong to one side of d coin & I keep on saying dis,both nurses and drs are in a symbiotic relationship..Each one has dia unique responsibility in healthcare ,work together and shouldnt be in competition with one another.Any nurse or Dr dat keeps bringing up dis topic/argument has got serrrrrious complex problems and needs professional help.Like seriously!!


perfectly put

1 Like

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by dancewith: 7:25am On Nov 01, 2016
Are you kidding me? I am yet to see a nurse perform heart surgery or even most surgeries. If my memory is correct I can't recall a nurse diagnosing and making prescriptions to me when I visited the hospital.

4 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by InyinyaAgbaOku(m): 7:27am On Nov 01, 2016
Complete piece of crap.
How about they didn't study the same curriculum in schools?

And what is it about comparing an EXPERIENCED FLOOR NURSE to an DOCTOR INTERN.
That's a useless comparison. But even at that, they don't have the same undergraduate curriculum, the intern doc will still know more about diagnosis whole the experienced nurse about nursing skills.
E no follow sef.
If you like, let the security man wear the same thing as doctors, even if e look like panadol, e no be panadil

10 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by buffalowings4: 7:28am On Nov 01, 2016
Ok sad

Just know your job and do it
What with the comparison?

Bullcrap sad angry

3 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by mumumugu(m): 7:30am On Nov 01, 2016
doctors have bad hanwritin
nurses have good handwriting

2 Likes

Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by mumumugu(m): 7:30am On Nov 01, 2016
doctors have bad hanwritin
nurses have good handwriting
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by eleojo23: 7:31am On Nov 01, 2016
I see war brewing on this thread.
Re: A Doctor Reveals The Only Thing That Truly Separates Doctors From Nurses by babyfaceafrica: 7:31am On Nov 01, 2016
dancewith:
Are you kidding me? I am yet to see a nurse perform heart surgery or even most surgeries. If my memory is correct I can't recall a nurse diagnosing and making prescriptions to me when I visited the hospital.
not all doctors perform surgeries,and pharmacist prescribe drugs

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