Doc Shortage: Can Nurse Practitioners Replace Doctors?
/Nurse practitioners are highly sought after as a less expensive healthcare alternative. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, there is going to be a shortage of physicians (expected to exceed 46,000 within the next decade), and of course, a significant increase in the cost of medical treatments.
In order to become a nurse practitioner, one must complete a master’s or doctoral degree and have a registered nurse certification. However, some do not see this as an adequate replacement for physicians because their training does not amount to the 7+ years of postgraduate education and 10,000 hours of clinical experience that physicians are required to have. Therefore, 29 states prevent nurse practitioners from practicing without the supervision of a doctor.
To read more from our staff click here
To read more from NBC News click here
