Many advanced-practice nurses are already serving as their patients’ principal provider. With nurse practitioners having concluded graduate-level studies and up to 700 hours of clinical involvement, there is a high possibility that nurses will be the one to fill the gap in the shortage of primary care physicians. “These updated projections confirm that the physician shortage is real, it’s significant, and the nation must begin to train more doctors now if patients are going to be able to receive the care they need when they need it in the near future,” said AAMC President and CEO Darrel G. Kirch, M.D. It takes approximately fourteen years for an individual to become a doctor, and since it takes much less time to produce a nurse practitioner, there are more individuals entering the field which will even out patient-provider ratios. Many doctors believe that this action should not be put into effect. Doctors accept that their nurse counterparts would not improve effectiveness, equity, or quality. Many doctors trust that they provide a much higher quality treatment than their nurse coworkers. Doctors also believe that providing nurse practitioners with the right to lead primary care practices and admit patients into a hospital would be detrimental to the safety of the patients. The main difference between a doctor’s ability and a nurse’s ability is that doctors study diseases and …show more content…
As mentioned, the current American physician must spend an average of fourteen years to become a doctor. These years consists of the four years spent as an undergraduate, the four years spent in medical school, and the three to eight years spent doing residencies and fellowships. Nurse practitioners usually earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing(BSN) and at least a master’s degree in nursing. Nurse practitioners are also expected to obtain advanced clinical training beyond their initial registered nurse preparation. Nurse practitioners must be nationally certified and licensed in states in which they plan to practice. Although nurse practitioners must undergo a plethora of schooling, they are far more than just health care providers. They serve communities as mentors, educators, advisors, and researchers. Their meaningful contributions to society helps to advance the current title of a nurse