To expect to be examined and diagnosed by an actual nurse or doctor?

[Cravela]

Stomach pain came on suddenly and worsened over 24 hrs. Telephone appt with GP who advised hospital and sent me to the surgical assessment unit. So far so good

Staff member arrives in scrubs and takes all my details and then starts examining me. Tells me the plan (CT scan) and that she will give pain killers in the meantime.

Noticed she wasn’t wearing a lanyard/badge so I asked her her name Dr?. She says oh I’m not a doctor, ok so you’re a nurse? (No issues with that always choose to see an advance nurse practitioner when I go to the GP and I have a friend who is a consultant nurse). No she says she’s not a nurse. I was getting quite frustrated at this point because she was clearly avoiding just telling me her job role. So I straight out said can you tell me your job role please. She said she was a “physicians associate”.

I’ve never heard of one before so I googled after she left and literally anyone can be one after a 2 year course. They don’t come under the GMC or the nurses governing body and aren’t able to prescribe medicine or diagnose people??

I asked the nurse in charge if I could see a doctor or a surgical nurse and they came 10 mins later. Doctor was quite apologetic and re-examined me.

AIBU to think if you aren’t a doctor or a nurse you should tell people that before you put your hands on them??

@Crinklecuts
I'm not exactly sure what you think I did but I was replying to someone who mentioned the poor PA courses. There might be a list of unsuitable universities but people from the UK are still paying to study there.
I was not criticising any other profession or criticising the international workforce, the nhs wouldn't run without them. I mentioned people from the UK studying there.
I'm not angry either, I don't need to be, I'm just explaining the PA role.

A CT scan was going to be ordered
Does it really matter who orders it?

@Rugbyleague

But we pay for university in England too and by your on admission people on this thread haven’t explored each and every course? Just like you have explored every foreign/domestic medical school.

I just think all this anger among colleagues is awful. It’s no good for morale. I think it’s unfair that PAs are getting a hard time on this thread because I’m not sure how much worse things would be without these types of roles. I value you and I know other colleagues do too and more of them do than don’t I can assure you.

@RosesAndHellebores

She then sat me down and asked for the questionnaire I'd completed and proceeded to go over every single question - I imagine because it's assumed the thicko patient receiving free care can't accurately complete a form.

Were you having an MRI scan? If so the questionnaire is of vital importance as the answers will dictate whether you can safely enter an extremely strong magnetic field - so, in a few cases, literally the difference between life and death. Hence why the answers have to be checked - yes, every patient’s answers, as I’m sure you are actually aware, you weren’t being singled out. Many patients find these examinations stressful and quite often they can forget something or answer incorrectly. So what you “imagine” is the motivation behind going through the questionnaire is entirely wrong.

Forgive me if it was not an MRI scan that was involved, I’m not as well versed in the procedures for other scans. I only mention it because should you ever have another scan then exactly the same procedure is likely to occur, so I thought you might like to know the rationale behind it.

Your post suggests that you don't understand advanced level practice, these roles were not developed so that staff could take bloods & site cannulas. The roles have developed over time, so that these clinicians manage the complexity of undifferentiated diagnoses. However, there are plenty of online resources for you to read, assimilate & update your knowledge & perspective

I think you have a point. I didn't even know what a PA was! But yes you have every right to be not impressed.

@MrsFezziwig no it wasn't an MRI scan. I've had an MRI scan and it was done far more sensitively and the reasons explained. This was a Dexa scan so a personal medical and family history. And no explanation for the cross examination even though I asked why I had been asked to complete the paperwork in advance when it all had to be done again. It was very very patronising down to you'll have to take your bra off followed up with "what are you waiting for, oh do you want the curtain closed" and sighing because she had to move a trolley out of the way.

It really wasn't very nice or very respectful. I remain under the facility because the consultant is fabulous but sadly the culture around her isn't.

It amazes me how many on this thread think that they can presume so much about people's level of intelligence and executive function skills based on their formal education and career.

You all remind me a lot of the arse holes I deal with at work who like to presume I just won't understand what they're talking about or couldnt possibly be in the same position as them.

@Kay7766923 that's exactly how I'm made to feel every time I enter an NHS hospital. Funnily enough less so by a consultant than most other staff.

Just an update on this for those interested: