It is human nature that if the only tool you have is a hammer, all problems will tend to look like nails.
What the brain doesn't know, the eye doesn't see. I'm sure there are many nurse practitioners of great knowledge and integrity, but - often enough, many will be cutting some corners. They will be missing things and taking on problems above their expertise more often than docs do.
I haven't read the frequently quoted studies about the "outcomes" being very close between docs and nurses - but that doesn't surprise me. Most of the time, if you follow advice coming from your neighbor's wife - you'll do fine. The difference is not in the 93-95% of cases - it is in the last 5 or 6%. That's where you get your money's worth. And - the key is to know when a "routine" looking situation is, in fact, treacherous. Again, if your brain doesn't know it, you won't see it.
A study based on 100% of clinical situations may not find a statistical difference.... because in the majority of cases there probably isn't any, especially if your "outcomes" are sufficiently short term
But, hey, what do I care. We can talk until the cows and sheep come home, and it will make exactly zero difference. Politicians will still do whatever they want, and support their decisions by data produced to order by ivory tower "experts". |
