The NP 'takeover' is not a result of cost cutting, it is a result of a severe shortage that has manifested itself in hordes of mid-level practitioners that have no desire to further the discipline, but can adequately plug the hole. Somewhere along this process we have exposed to the country that the work we do is, for the most part, overpriced. Let's not kid ourselves, this is the real argument for mid-levels, and this is why we fear them. Despite this reality check, we continue to have the luxury of a guaranteed six-figure salary waiting for us at the end of residency. With the cost of medical school what it is, this continues to be a pretty safe bet as a long-term investment.
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