Role for NP working FOR a Sports Med Doc

[RDlv]

What role is there for a NP to work with a Sports Med physician/practice?

Yes, this is a potential can of worms. I am very aware that the zeitgeist around here is that an NP will be the first to learn from you, then turn around and betray you in their quest for "Independence." Sadly, as I have posted elsewhere, there is an element of truth to that, at least on the academic side.

But indulge me in imagining a more benign scenario. Novice NP who has an interest in learning from you, with no interest in taking your job. Just wants to provide patient care in a role YOU devise as a SUPERVISOR (and hopefully, mentor).

In this case, attitude/ambition is not a concern. Legit concerns are that besides being a novice in general, the NP will need a great deal of work for even rudimentary x-ray reading ability, as well as for procedures (which may be a good thing from your perspective, as far as procedures go). Flip side of this is that you will have an assistant you can mold, who has a brain in their head and can be relied on.

So, any role? If yes, what role? How would such a hire benefit your practice, bring in income and keep your patients happy and well?

Thanks.

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[lowbudget]

I have never met a sports med NP. Not to say there aren't any, just that there aren't many. That being said, I don't understand your question. Are you asking: can an NP practice sports medicine? Or are you asking if a sports med doc will hire an NP? Or are you asking if there is something in the field of sports medicine that would be unique for an NP to fill? Or are you asking if there is something in sports medicine done by others that an NP can do?

I mean, can a sports med doctor hire an NP to work? Yes.

What can an NP do? Sounds like they can do any of this: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_practitioner

Or... Are you asking what is our opinion of the training and competency of NP's to practice sports medicine in the context of family medicine in an average sports medicine setting?

 

[RDlv]

I have never met a sports med NP. Not to say there aren't any, just that there aren't many. That being said, I don't understand your question. Are you asking: can an NP practice sports medicine? Or are you asking if a sports med doc will hire an NP? Or are you asking if there is something in the field of sports medicine that would be unique for an NP to fill? Or are you asking if there is something in sports medicine done by others that an NP can do?

I mean, can a sports med doctor hire an NP to work? Yes.

What can an NP do? Sounds like they can do any of this: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_practitioner

Or... Are you asking what is our opinion of the training and competency of NP's to practice sports medicine in the context of family medicine in an average sports medicine setting?

First, thank you for the response.

I am asking, if you are a sports med doc, would you hire an NP? What would you have them do? How would they benefit your practice (probably the first question)?

I've just recently seen an inquiry for a local sports med doc looking for an NP. I will write them, ask these questions, and I can post the answers here if anybody is interested.

 

[lowbudget]

I am asking, if you are a sports med doc, would you hire an NP? What would you have them do? How would they benefit your practice (probably the first question)?

Unlikely. Primary care sports medicine combines medicine and orthopedics. There's significant amount of anatomy and physiology that you must understand in PCSM. A primary care physician can get away with not having an expert grasp of anatomy and it would be ok. An orthopedist can get away with not knowing too much physiology and that would be ok. You need to know both anatomy and physiology, and I don't know too many nurses or advanced practice nurses who take interest in learning and understanding both to be able to apply it in a clinically relevant way that would allow them to make a diagnosis and direct treatment. There's already too much to learn, but PCSM is a field that you won't be able to get away with not knowing the basic sciences.

I hope you're right that your physician employer will train you. Most physicians employ an NP because they are already too busy. I hope the physician is not too busy to teach. Along the same lines, you should vet this physician. Remember, physicians train by going through rotations, learning from a variety/diversity of disciplines, hone them under supervised practice, and given autonomy to make decisions. I can't imagine learning in the setting of 1 physician apprenticeship model. Medicine did away with the apprenticeship model long ago with residency, so I can't imagine learning/understanding what you would need to learn with such a narrow angled lense.

To my understanding of how NP's train, you need to (sort of) declare a major and train in that particular setting: family NP, pediatric NP, geriatric NP, acute care NP, orthopedic NP, etc. PCSM physicians bounce around multiple settings so your role would only be limited to the role that's within your scope of practice and training during the NP program.

Lastly, most NP's are utilized in general settings, because there aren't enough general physicians or enough money. So many NP's work in underserved areas. The problem here is that sports medicine is not underserved. Everybody wants to do sports medicine, even people not trained in sports medicine practice sports medicine. Sports med is crowded with ortho's, FP's, osteopaths, chiros, PT's, OT's, AT-C's, strength & conditioning coaches, personal trainers, naturopaths, podiatrists, acupuncturists, and exercise physiologists. To understand what *can an NP do requires that NP's first understand what *do they do. NP's are more interested in practicing medicine than they are in practicing a higher level of nursing. So, on first blush, I'm willing to say that there is almost no role an NP can bring to the table that is truly unique and adds value. The role an NP would play is one where there is no one else willing or able to provide that role; but unfortunately in sports medicine, many roles are already taken. It's a crowded field that even general physicians (PCSM) are trying to carve out their own niche.

All that said, a physician can employ an NP for whatever reason they want. But, let it be clear that just because you work for a sports medicine doc doesn't mean you're practicing primary care sports medicine, independently for that matter. I'm sure you can get there, but it's going to take a lot more dedication, work, and study than most standard NP programs require of their students.

Just my opinion.

 

[RDlv]

A detailed and honest reply, thank you very much. It gives me much to think about.

I'm most interested in a primary care setting, and my exposure in urgent care settings has shown me that there are plenty of PC ortho issues that come through, so I'll probably start there.

Thanks again.