by Emilia M. Banse
I have been asked this question many times, or sensed it telepathically from an obviously confused patient. Gone are the days when nurses wore white dresses and hats, and physicians always wore long white coats. And, unless you take a course in medical terminology, acronyms like CNA, SNT, LPN, RN, RD, PharmD, PA, NP, FNP, and PMHNP mean very little to you.
As a board certified nurse practitioner (NP) with a clinical masters degree in psychiatric mental health nursing, I have earned the title PMHNP-BC. I am qualified to assess, diagnose and prescribe medications for psychiatric conditions in children and adults, and perform psychiatric assessments and research. Like physicians who specialize, NPs also specialize in various medical disciplines.
Psychiatrists must complete four years of college, four years of medical school, and three to seven years of residency training. In New York State, nurse practitioners must complete a BS degree in nursing (BSN), gain experience as a registered nurse (RN) and attend a graduate program to earn the equivalent of a doctorate in a medical specialty. NPs practice independently under their own state license, and must have a collaborative agreement with a licensed physician to consult on complex cases or those requiring a second opinion. However, after completing 3600 hours of practice, an NP no longer requires this agreement.
According to a recent report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NPs have become vital in the delivery of more improved patient care. The report, based on a study funded by New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health and University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, revealed:
• Approximately 70-80 percent of patients seen by NPs are more satisfied, have longer consultations and more tests, with no real differences in patient outcomes.
• Nurse practitioners provide care equivalent to that provided by physicians—and some studies even indicate care was more effective than that provided by physicians.
• Better results were identified among NPs on measures of patient follow-up; consultation time; satisfaction; screening, assessment, and counseling.
So what do patients need to know when consulting with an NP? I tell patients to consider their overall health and the severity of their medical problems. It helps to ask friends for recommendations, and it is important to consider the experience of the NP in the specialty in which they work.
What else? Look for someone who understands their limitations and who can honestly say, “I don’t know,” but who is willing to refer you to someone who can help. The truth is “I don’t know” happens to nurses and doctors alike. Fortunately, most NPs are highly trained, safe providers, who know their limitations and have the best intentions for their clients.
About the author:
Emilia M. Banse, RN, MS PMHNP-BC is a family nurse practitioner in psychiatry who sees patients ages 13-65 for evaluation, diagnosis, medication management and supportive therapy. She sees patients at EB Wellness Community in Snyder. Learn more at www.ebwellnesscommunity.com or call 716.239.2014.
