In November 2024, Bloomberg Businessweek published an article titled “What Happens When U.S. Hospitals Binge on Nurse Practitioners” that documents how “the increasing reliance on ill-trained nurse practitioners is imperiling patients.” As stated in the article, “In effect, she was a part of an industry experiment testing whether nurse practitioners can do a physician’s job caring for acutely ill patients. The experiment failed.”
The article highlights patient deaths resulting from an NP who failed to properly care for them while they were hospitalized for critical care.
Case #1—A 69-year-old man with a rapidly dropping blood pressure suffered what was likely a gastrointestinal bleed after the NP failed to assess him and order testing. After his condition worsened, the patient died.
Case #2—The NP gave an agitated female patient three doses of a medication that was not recommended for her condition. The NP proceeded to provide the patient with a second drug that left her unconscious, and she died two days later. The NP never consulted a physician while the patient was in her care.
Case #3—An 87-year-old man, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, underwent a successful knee surgery. During his hospitalization, the patient showed signs of declining oxygen levels. The NP failed to order a critical arterial blood gas test. Overnight the patient went into respiratory and cardiac arrest, which led to his death.
These deaths demonstrate why physician involvement is vital for quality care and positive patient outcomes. Without the requisite training and education that medical doctors have, NPs may pose risks in emergency or intensive care settings.
Patient safety must remain the cornerstone of health care in our state. Therefore, physician involvement in patient care must remain current law in North Carolina.
The NC Patient Safety Coalition is an alliance of medical professionals that advocate for physician-led health care that protects patient safety. Learn more on our website at www.ncpatientsafety.com, and follow us on X @NCPatientSafety and Facebook www.facebook.com/NCPatientSafety.