The problem of comparing nurse practitioner practice with medical practice

Comparing the practice of nurse practitioners to medical practice began almost 50 years ago and continues to this day. This comparison is curious since the founders of this movement did not indicate that these advanced practice nurses were to be interchangeable with physicians. Nevertheless, substantial literature indicates that nurse practitioners perform equally or better when measured against physician practice standards. This paper compares the ontology and epistemology of both professions and concludes that the philosophical foundations are so different that comparisons are illogical.

Automated summary

Comparing the practice of nurse practitioners to medical practice has been ongoing for nearly 50 years. Despite the founders of this movement not intending for advanced practice nurses to be interchangeable with physicians, extensive literature suggests that nurse practitioners perform at an equal or higher level compared to physicians. However, this paper argues that the differences in ontology and epistemology between the two professions make such comparisons illogical.