To the editor:

The purpose of this letter is to help educate people and clear up misconceptions regarding the roles of nurse practitioners.

The reason I seek to write this letter is in response to several comments that I have heard from patients and friends. Recently a friend asked me if there was a difference between nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants.

This friend also asked me if physician’s assistants served a larger role than nurse practitioners; they even went as far as to say, “just a nurse.” I do not believe the intentions of my friend were to offend me; however, I think it provided me with the opportunity to provide clarity to the public.

I have been a registered nurse for nearly eight years. I have worked in several roles in the nursing field. Currently, I am working at Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH) in the intensive care unit. I have been employed by CPH for the past seven years. I graduated in 2008 from SUNY Canton with an associate’s degree in nursing.

I completed my bachelor’s or nursing degree in 2015 from Kaplan University. I am currently a student a Frontier Nursing University working on my master’s degree in family nurse practitioner. When I graduate from Frontier I will begin working in the community as a family nurse practitioner; my intentions are to clarify, to the public, the roles of a nurse practitioner.

I do not believe that there should be competition amongst medical providers. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants both serve a vital role in health care. These providers help to provide quality care to patients, and allow access to medical care.

There is a shortage of physicians, and these types of providers help fill the gaps. The major difference between nurse practitioners and physician assistants is the education. Nurse practitioners earn a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing, and a physician assistant earns a master’s degree in physician assistance studies. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are required to pass board exams in order to be able to practice.

There are many laws, regulations, and other rules that dictate the practice of nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Nurse practitioners are not simply “just a nurse.” Even associate-level registered nurses are not “just nurses.” The work of a nurse is exhaustive and emotionally draining. Nurses have a tremendous role in medicine, and without them quality care would cease to exist.

The point is that nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education and training. Nurse practitioners that have passed their board examinations, can provide care to patients, which includes: assessing, diagnosing, and treating medical conditions.

The nurse practitioner can prescribe medication, provide advanced medical care, treat medical problems, and much more. I could probably write a book about all the roles that nurse practitioners can serve.

However, the point is that nurse practitioners serve an important role in medicine. Nurse practitioners can provide exceptional care, and can perform most of the same functions as physicians.

Please give nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants a chance to provide you with exceptional medical care.

Joseph J. Adams IV

Massena