My oncologist uses a nurse practitioner

Practicianer

I see several Dr's at Mayo. Most of my routine visits are with a PA. Mayo also does a lot of training. Almost every visit with my Dr I will see a young Dr first then a follow up. My family Dr is a PA. In 10 years I have not seen the Dr. Depends on if your happy. I always take notes to my visits and go over my list each visit. Keeps me from forgetting to ask a question and keeps me on track.

Yes, I now see the NP who practices with my RO for routine followup visits because my PSA is undetectable and I am not having other problems. She also asks many questions about possible issues, which is quite helpful as she sees many patients and is quite knowledgeable.
I hope to only need to see her FOREVER 🫢
During active Salvage Radiation Treatment, I would see the RN first and then the RO would see me.
All good with me.
Best wishes.

I asked my NP what the SUV number on my psma pet scan was for my tumor and she had never heard of SUV. Scary!

Wow lots to unpack here. As a doc( not uro) I did expect more doc involvement in my case- not so much. This is a pet peave of mine. I was an interventionist ped. card. Never would I solely rely on physician extenders( sorry for the term) to explain procedures,give life changing advice etc. you get the idea. However things have radically changed in US and probably elsewhere and in my humble opinion not for the better. The best adv pract nurse or pay does NOT have nearly the trainiy nor experience as a doc, especially with super subspecialties. Unfortunately the horse has left the barn BUT you can always request the doc. If they don't comply go elsewhere. Best dnm md

Yes I requested Dr and was treated agreeably. Next time I’m going to screen credentials of NP. If not confident afterwards will move forward to remedy care.

Thank you for your frankness. As a patient with lots of "doctor experience" I know that NPs and PAs do not have near the formal training or clinical experience that the medical doctor has. And I was seriously misdiagnosed by a PA. If they want to be a doctor, then do the work.
I have also learned that Specialists have subspecialties!
When they say you have to be your own advocate, they mean you should read your reports, check everything and make sure you are talking to the right professional.
We as a Society need to get smart and make medical school more affordable as we already have a shortage of doctors and it is forecast to only get worse

My husband is a patient of Dr. Kwon at Mayo Rochester. Working with the doctor is a group that calls itself "the Kwon team," mostly highly qualified PAs and NPs. In-person appointments at Mayo always include Dr. Kwon in person, but there is also a member of the team present at every visit. After working with the team since 2011, I can say that they are all very knowledgeable, responsive, and compassionate. And they definitely spend more time with us and our questions, in person or on the portal, than Dr. Kwon. Do not discount a PA or NP out of hand; it isn't possible to accurately generalize the care they provide.

I have received great care from NP's and PA's the years with a serious liver disease. They for the most part managed my visit care. They also create reports and speak directly with your physician if a problem develops that needs the physicians attention. I loved both of them and emphatically trusted of them. I've had doctors that I've had absolutely no use for.

NP's and PA's from my personal experience train in a specialty and are knowledgeable in that area. The physician mine worked for is considered one of the best in the county in his specialty and the NP and PA wouldn't be with him if they weren't that good in that respective lane. Sorry you had a bad experience with them. I and my wife have had doctors misdiagnose conditions too.