The physician is better able to handle what is out of the algorithm. That position is echoed by many physician organizations. A 1994 ACP position paper on the subject supports collaborative relationships between NPs and physicians, but says that it cannot support NPs practicing independently until there is solid evidence that patient care is not compromised. The AMA and the American Academy of Family Physicians similarly support the use of NPs only if practicing under physician supervision. Collaborative practice is something that we favor and encourage, but not independent practice.
Advocates assert there's room for both NPs and physicians at the clinic.
Doctors are delighted to have us there. Drawing the line But few physicians appear to be ready to embrace NPs as fully independent colleagues. While research has shown that NPs can perform about four-fifths of the services provided by primary care physicians with comparable quality, there has not yet been such research on care given by NPs in fully autonomous settings. Without those data, many physicians remain skeptical. NPs often portray such criticism as proof that doctors are merely protecting their turf.