Medical Alphabet Soup
- Part II
(Link
here for part I of this discussion.)
My last
column described some of the initials you’ll
find after a doctor’s name and what they
mean. As a prudent patient, knowing the
distinctions among all those initials will
help you choose the provider with the most
appropriate education and credentials to
help you.
But doctors’
initials are only a start! When you visit
your provider’s office you’ll find people
who aren’t doctors who have initials after
their names, too.
Here are a
few you may find:
A PA is a Physician’s
Assistant. PAs are licensed to practice medicine
under the supervision of private practice
physicians or hospitals. They may diagnose
and treat patients, prescribe medicine and
some may be surgical assistants.
Perhaps the
most recognizable designation is RN. RNs
are Registered Nurses, and you’ll find them
in almost any health care setting. While
doctors and others may do the diagnosing and
prescribing, nurses are found in every
support role there is, mostly providing
treatment and monitoring to carry out other
provider’s orders.
Some RNs
have a two-year, associates degree, but
additional designations and initials may
indicate additional education and training.
For example, a BSN is a nurse with a
four-year, bachelor’s degree. CRNAs are
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who
provide anesthesia to patients prior to
surgery, baby deliveries, dental procedures
and other situations.
Sometimes,
however, more than two initials may mean
less training, and different
responsibilities. A CNA is a Certified
Nursing Assistant and an LPN is a Licensed
Practical Nurse. Neither of these
credentials requires a post-high school
degree, but they do require special skills
training.
In some
cases, fewer initials mean more education.
An NP is a Nurse Practitioner. Nurse
practitioners have completed a registered
nursing degree, plus an additional degree,
usually a masters. An NP must be certified
in a specific specialty area, such as family
health, oncology, or pediatrics. An
NP can serve as a patient’s regular health
care provider, and may
diagnose, order tests, develop treatment
plans and write prescriptions.
There are
dozens more designations for providers of
varying backgrounds.
For a master list of designations, check out
MedHunters Directory.
What’s the
bottom line for us patients? Understanding
basic designations can help us make the
right provider choice, setting the stage for
a good partnership, and a better medical
outcome.
© 2006 Trisha Torrey
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