A survey of 12-hundred Oregonians, Washingtonians and Idahoans found that 49 percent agreed that the treatment they get from nurses is just as good as what they get from a doctor. Their confidence in nurses continued whether they were dealing with a cold or a cancer diagnosis.
Pollster Adam Davis, of Davis, Hibbitts and Midghall says respondents gave all kinds of reasons:
Adam Davis: “This includes nurse practitioners just generally having a better bedside manner, being better beside listeners. Spending more time with the patient, that was mentioned as well in the follow up interviews.”
Respondents said nurses were also a little more open to alternative care and easier to contact on short notice.
The survey was a collaboration among the Northwest Health Foundation, the polling firm Davis, Hibbitts, and Midghall and public radio stations across the Northwest.
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Access the full article and recording here: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1712411/KPLU.Local.News/Poll.Nurse.Practitioners.as.Good.as.Doctors