A light in the darkness.

I'm so happy you found a doctor closer then having to expand your search as you stated in another thread. Hopefully the NP can help you find some sanity. I acually like NP's better so far in my medical history the NP's have been so much more caring and understanding.

I wish you luck and please keep us updated

Laurie

There really is not much difference between an MD who is a GP and a NP/PA. The MD has a little more schooling and goes through a more varied residency program, but in practical terms there really is not much one can do and the other can't. Technically a NP/PA has to work under the supervision of an MD but that supervision can be done "remotely", meaning the MD does not even have to practice in the same office, only has to be available for consultations if needed. At the start of a practice a new MD has a little more knowledge than a new NP/PA in theory, but since many NP/PA's spend some time working as nurses or were corpsman/medics in the military the real difference in knowledge and experience may be minute.

I don't have any qualms about seeing a NP/PA. I have dealt with many in the past when I was in social services and helping mentally retarded adults achieve their highest levels of independence as possible. The NP's/PA's that I dealt with then were always down to earth and seemed a lot more understanding and compassionate than many of the doctors I dealt with on the behalf of my clients.

Yes it is different here. In IL NP/PA's can practice off site from their supervising doctor and they can also write prescriptions for narcotics, assuming they have passed the licensing requirements to do so, and I have not met one yet that hasn't.

In Washington State, I know NPs can prescribe narcotics but only up to scheadule 3 narcotics, not scheadule 2 like oxycontin, morphine, fentanyl, anything really strong, about the strongest they can prescribe is for the 10mg hydrocodones. I know it's diffrent in every state. When I moved to Utah for a short while, my ex took me to his family doctor that was actually a NP with his own office, and I told him I was very very ill but had no money. Well he got me in RIGHT away, I walked in the door, asked about an appointment and prices and they gave me an info sheet to fil out and saw me 5 minutes later. HE waved his charges since he knew my ex's family and they where wonderful people, AND gave me a free coupon for an antibiotic, so all in all, I got everything for free with absoutly no waiting. And he told me that I if I got even more sicker (I had a ear, sinus and a viral infection all at once) that I could call him any time of day or night and on weekends and not to hisitate. And he explained to me that drinking a tablespoon of water every ten nimutes for 6 hours (or something like that) equaled one bag of IV fluid, since I could hardly keep anything down. He was wonderful, too bad he doesnt work where I live now in Washington state. I even had a Midwife that is a certified nurse and she would take care of migraines and depression many many years after she delivered my daughter. And she didnt mind me coming in for stuff that wasnt related to pregnancy, she knew I only trusted her, and we could talk for hours as she understood alot of what I was dealing with and she also was allowed to prescribe up to scheadule 3 pain meds, but she moved to arizona. So all in all, some of the best medical professionals I've been to are nurses.

-hellokitty

Hi Jim,

Thats awesome news! That has to make you feel so much better knowing this is is someone local. We all of course hope everything goes well at the appt.It will be interesting to see who this NP is operating under dr wise. This is the break you have been waiting for. Keep us posted how the visit goes.