VA takes heat over plan to let nurses treat vets without doc supervision | Fox News

So here is the deal. If this is true and nurses are going to be "providers" then that WTFO, why aren't Independent Duty Senior Enlisted Medical Specialist like "Independent Duty Corpsmen (IDC)" or other medical specialties from across all the branches that operate in isolated environments independent of physician NOT allowed to care for veterans? They understand them at a much deeper level in ways, some "commercial" nurses who have never served or if they served was not engaged in front line healthcare operations can. Many I know would trust senior operational medics and corpsmen over nurses to treatment them, especially having served with some.

Don't get me wrong I worked with some nurses that I'd pray my life was in their hands. Others not so much!!! When the VA better engages the Senior Enlisted Medical Specialist who operate in independent medical scenarios such as submarines, etc. to help in a TEAM environment treat veterans the use of nurses to be providers may not be so bad. The run of the mill nurse has little on a highly skilled medical operator. If a nurse has been trained as a nurse practitioner, then great.

The VA needs to RETHINK its care options and think seriously about how to engage our enlisted medical specialist. The VA needs to be more engaged with METC and deliberate about recruiting former military medics and corpsmen (MMACs) toward care paths that take them form their MMAC experience to being an RN or get their BSN/NP/PA credentials building on their tested combat / operational medical skills. The VA cannot complain about shortages, when there are 1,000s of former MMACs who can under supervision fulfill many of the same direct care or medical administration roles they filled on AD.

If you are a nurse reading this, know that my wife is a nurse (LPN) with > 50 yrs nursing experience including rehab nursing. She also served on AD and is Ret USN. So, don't think I don't have a counter balance to my opinion. We talk about this all the time. I also have a story that will make many nurses and others mad that I am happy to share about how disrespectful a nursing education program here in Virginia treated her as both a former MMAC and at the time a practicing LPN.

That story of disrespect is why I am responding. When nursing programs that are trying to recruit motivated nursing candidates treat people the way they treated her, there is little wonder why many highly skilled MMACs don't follow on to enter nursing. Many go into medical admin or go to PA school or even medical school. So nurses, you might want to rethink how you treat (rather mistreat) MMACs who would make excellent nurses, especially female MMACs with LPN experience. Just saying!!!

Consider this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLOjIKt7wOk. Do you think these men and women at the front lines understand our veterans better? Why is the VA not begging military medics and corpsmen to be more engaged in the care of their fellow veterans?

If the nurse is fully qualified to provide the veteran with the necessary care in the absence of a Dr. then why not. Intake nurse do all the up front work as it is, doctors fall in on their write ups. Maybe this will reduce the the wait time for appointments and improve on health care for veterans.

Well I don't think it's a bad idea? Work them like a PA. Which they are technically. I think it might be a good thing. Because here is an example. I was at the VA Emergency Room. Now mind you this same think has happened a few times at this hospital. Ok in the ER on a Saturday Night At 2200. Should be packed should have to mask up in the ER. But well there were 3 people including my self. And the projected wait time 8 hrs. The doc on duty thought it was funny people were leaving. Well the Medic Nurse was great. She wanted to help bet couldnt. The male Nurse well I wanted to mmm never mind let just say wasn't helpful. I have never seen a ER like that on a Saturday night. I never got treated went home because the pain meds wore off and the Nurse he gave no help. He said call an ambulance if you need help. Thank you CPO Cabrillo for the post. Have a good morning Sir.