u/Alpha-Waves-2202

Retired CNM here. I started in 1993, and retired 2 years ago. I have always promoted being an NP as a great career/lifestyle, because I loved my job, was not overworked, and felt respected by the MDs I worked with. I would not encourage the career anymore. The downhill slippery slope started with EMRs and all the superfluous documentation they require. The downhill slide was strengthened by patient portals which often duplicate (and double) the workload. Then the accountants, who know nothing about how we work, started dictating the workload numbers that seemed appropriate to them. And finally, the Insurance companies, who STILL believe they know more about our patients then we do upped their game. I truly believe that this all happened because those of us in Healthcare were naive to the business world goals and tactics. Somewhere in the 90's and early 2000's we allowed ourselves to be manipulated into a profit oriented game plan, orchestrated by the above groups, and it has made Healthcare-as-a-Career a soul sucking venture. I think as a group we can(well I'm retired, but maybe you can) start to push back hard. We are the ONLY ones in this situation that truly have our Patient's best interest at heart, and that should be the core idea to use to fight back. The professions that make up the US health care system should pull together to get this Patient-centered goal organized, because I truly believe quality of Patient care AND Provider lifestyles are continuing to slide which does not bode well for either group. Sorry for the rant...I just know what being an NP meant to me all these years, and it hurts to see all of you hurting in this profession now.