Is it normal to see your RD at every visit or do you have to see a nurse practitioner most of the time?
I always see my RD.
Only gone 3 x's so far and always see my RD.
Well...I got to see my RD 1st appt then had to see NP on the next 4 appts, and it keeps repeating tat way. Not happy with this so I mad an appt with another RD...but the soonest he can see me is February. So I will just keep my appts with current RD until February gets here...what do ya'll think?
I always see my RD. She had an intern from the hospital working once with her, but she introduced him and told me she would be back, after making sure I didn't mind having him talk to me first. I figured they must learn somewhere. But she came back in an went over things again and told him some of the problems that I, as an individual, have. I didn't mind that at all, but I don't think I would like seeing a nurse practitioner most visits.
By the way, my pain specialist, who I just got transferred to in May, sees patients the first time, for about an hour and a half. After that, you see the Physician's Assistant, unless injections or other procedures are being done. I didn't think I would like that, but I really do like the PA, and he is extremely knowledgable. He can write rx's for my methadone, morphine, etc., and if he had any questions that he couldn't answer, the doctor is always available.
I guess doctors just work differently. It seems like different parts of the country seem to do things a bit differently at time, too.
I always see my RD. I always see my RD. She doesnt have nurses .I'm always with my Rheumie and I wouldn't have it any other way.
With that said though, I've seen PA's and ARNP many times at my Primary Care Doc or other doctors offices. I'm comfortabale with that, I've actuallly had some great ones who spend more time than the actual doctor. I just feel that rheumatology is such a specialty and my illness is not in control so I only want "my doctor".
ARNP can write prescriptions and have a practice on their own without a doctor, a PA can write prescriptions however they work under a doctor so they can not be out on their own.
Truthfully it used to really bother me to see a nurse practioner and not the Physician...now it really doesn't bother me, it is not like we are given a choice in the matter so I strive to be a "good patient".
Now back in the day when I took the kids to the Ped...noway, even though I knew the NP, noway...they saw the Pediatrician, if he was unavailable, I made the appt. for another time. Period. My kids grew to trust him and he was able to know when they were feeling good and when they were not and also they would open up to him and be themselves around him and they needed that stability...besides he was one of our good friends. I wished he could be the Ped for the grandkids that are sure to be around someday. I am getting the itch to be a grandma........
jode
BTW: I was told but have not researched this at all...but was told that a PA is only a 2 year degree, not sure if that is with an undergrad or not but there is a school up here in Michigan for that and I actually told my daughter about it as a possible career choice.
jode
Blessed, why don't you call the office and say up front that you want to see your RD and NOT the NP. When you do see him/her, I'd ask why you were switched to the NP in the first place. It doesn't sound right to me. The only time I saw the NP was for her to show me how to inject the Enbrel. Other than that I only see my RD.I see my RD but when I went for my enbrel approval i saw Katrina his nurse. She was great and gave me a 24hr emergency card incase i ever needed her. So i feel quite confident contacting her instead but my rheumy said that if i wanted to see him every appointment i could.I saw my RD the first time with the PA. I have seen the PA since. She always has time for me and always gets back to me the same day with questions!have always only seen my rheumatologist. Ihave seen a PA in my orthos office and gyn
Most PA programs will only accept people with previous medical experience (nursing, emt , military corpman) and will also look for people with a college degree. so while the programs are an intense 24 months it is more like graduate school than a typical 2 year program.
I don't have one here but in Ohio it was always him never his nurse. I didn't even have RA then. Or maybe I did it just didn't show at the time.< =text/>_popupControl(); I always see my RD. Only time I see NP is for infusions.
hi, I'll never see a 'nurse practitioner' again! My gp has one and the office staff is always recommending her. She can clean out the wax in my ears and do a pap smear, that it!!
When I went in with a bad throat she treated me for bronchitis for 9 days before I went back in and said 'this isn't working', then the Dr. found out I had pneumonia and a heart murmur!
Don't be encouraged to see any assistants unless it is something you think they can do.
Lynda
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants (PAs), which are basically equal in ability and designated duties, which require a post Bachleors Degree program that lasts for 2-3 years + internship. They are difficult programs to get into, requiring heavy sciences or medical backgrounds even to apply. (My son, Lee, was very interested in applying so we looked into it together. However, he decided to go into Bio-medical engineering instead.) They are basically a family practioner and are great for general medical practice and emergency room medicine, plus some other medical settings. The can practice independent of an MD but are usually found in "under the supervision" of an MD. They usually spend more time with patients than MD's who use nurses extensively. Nurses are either RNs (with 2-3 Yr. undergraduate program or Bachelors Degree), LPNs (with 1 - 1 1/2 yr. program) or medical assitants (MAs with 1-1 1/2 yr. undergraduate program). What is surprising is the amount of education ambulance folks or other first responders have. Check your local community college for programs in nursing and medical emergency folks.
I have always seen my RD and like others on here, he doesn't have an NP. However, it was my primary care's NP who missed my infamous appendicitis a year and a half ago. Since then I've read a lot of opinions on the subject and the consensus I've seen is that while NP's have their usefulness, if any diagnostic work is required (and RA plus the associated diseases can be tricky) it should be an MD.
I would insist on seeing the RD, and if they give you trouble with that, see the other RD in February.
I always see my RD too. I don't think my rheumatologist has any nurse practitioners. I've only ever seen her.I really was lucky that the "best rheumatologist in town" wasn't available for 9 months.
Andrea
I see my RD every visit too.