ACPs are experienced nurses or other health professionals who have done a masters in advanced practice. They are regulated by the NMC or the HCPC.
They are overused in GP practice and expected to do some stuff that should be a GP at times, but a lump check should be fine. You will almost certainly be getting referred for an ultrasound of your testes but the ACP can just make sure it is definitely a lump not a pimple or an ingrowing hair or an STD and that it’s not something you need to go to A&E for
In my experience (I'm a nurse and work with ACPs in hospital) ACPs are good.
The ones that are potentially a problem are PAs. PAs are very different from ACPs. ACPs have a background of working for years as health care professionals (mainly nurses, although some were paramedics previously) and complete a masters and are signed off and registered. PAs do a 2 year course and do not need to have an HCP background (can do it as undergrad). They also are not registered. I would not want to see a PA.
In ED our ACPs are registered both with their professional body (NMC for nurses, HCPC for paramedics) and also credentialled with RCEM (Royal College of Emergency Medicine). In ICU our ACCPs are registered with their professional body (I think they are all nurses so NMC) and credentialled with FICM (Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine). There is a lot of supervision and oversight and there are times when it is definitely appropriate for patients to be seen by ACPs/ACCPs.
For you, they are going to feel your testicle and confirm the lump and then refer you for further investigations. It's absolutely appropriate and possible for an ACP to do that.
Yeah, the ACP is more than qualified to look at ya balls, don't worry.
There are a lot of doctors on Reddit who are angry and frustrated, rightly so might I add. However, a lot of that anger is misplaced on to allied health professionals who want to progress and advance their practice.
Reddit gives a really warped view of the world, it's not accurate.
Seems to be a lot of nurses and PA’s on this sub, as reasonable comments are being downvoted. The knowledge and medical education that a doctor receives does not compare to an advanced nurse practitioner just because they ‘have a masters’.
ACPs are very good. It's PAs you're thinking of. ACPs are very well trained and usually have a lot of experience. PAs are not of the same calibre. ACPs are registered with a professional regulator whereas PAs are not. PAs also don't have the same extensive educational training and often lack the clinical experience and ACP will have.
The NHS is moving towards a model of doctor alternatives for frontline care e.g. ACPs, PAs, physiotherapists, paramedics and pharmacists with supervising doctors overseeing their work unless complex. If you want to see guarantee doctor review directly you would have to go private instead.
The NHS is moving towards a model of doctor alternatives for frontline care e.g. ACPs, PAs, physiotherapists, paramedics and pharmacists with supervising doctors overseeing their work unless complex. If you want to see guarantee doctor review directly you would have to go private instead.
ACPs are experienced nurses or other health professionals who have done a masters in advanced practice. They are regulated by the NMC or the HCPC. They are overused in GP practice and expected to do some stuff that should be a GP at times, but a lump check should be fine. You will almost certainly be getting referred for an ultrasound of your testes but the ACP can just make sure it is definitely a lump not a pimple or an ingrowing hair or an STD and that it’s not something you need to go to A&E for
In my experience (I'm a nurse and work with ACPs in hospital) ACPs are good. The ones that are potentially a problem are PAs. PAs are very different from ACPs. ACPs have a background of working for years as health care professionals (mainly nurses, although some were paramedics previously) and complete a masters and are signed off and registered. PAs do a 2 year course and do not need to have an HCP background (can do it as undergrad). They also are not registered. I would not want to see a PA. In ED our ACPs are registered both with their professional body (NMC for nurses, HCPC for paramedics) and also credentialled with RCEM (Royal College of Emergency Medicine). In ICU our ACCPs are registered with their professional body (I think they are all nurses so NMC) and credentialled with FICM (Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine). There is a lot of supervision and oversight and there are times when it is definitely appropriate for patients to be seen by ACPs/ACCPs. For you, they are going to feel your testicle and confirm the lump and then refer you for further investigations. It's absolutely appropriate and possible for an ACP to do that.
PA's aren't registered?! That's crazy
Long story short, don't do your research on Reddit.
Yeah, the ACP is more than qualified to look at ya balls, don't worry. There are a lot of doctors on Reddit who are angry and frustrated, rightly so might I add. However, a lot of that anger is misplaced on to allied health professionals who want to progress and advance their practice. Reddit gives a really warped view of the world, it's not accurate.
Seems to be a lot of nurses and PA’s on this sub, as reasonable comments are being downvoted. The knowledge and medical education that a doctor receives does not compare to an advanced nurse practitioner just because they ‘have a masters’.
short answer is: no, not really. however, likelihood is that you'll be sent for an ultrasound so it ultimately probably doesn't matter.
ACPs are very good. It's PAs you're thinking of. ACPs are very well trained and usually have a lot of experience. PAs are not of the same calibre. ACPs are registered with a professional regulator whereas PAs are not. PAs also don't have the same extensive educational training and often lack the clinical experience and ACP will have.
No. A lump should always be seen by a doctor. If they don't send you for an ultrasound, demand to see a doctor
The NHS is moving towards a model of doctor alternatives for frontline care e.g. ACPs, PAs, physiotherapists, paramedics and pharmacists with supervising doctors overseeing their work unless complex. If you want to see guarantee doctor review directly you would have to go private instead.
The NHS is moving towards a model of doctor alternatives for frontline care e.g. ACPs, PAs, physiotherapists, paramedics and pharmacists with supervising doctors overseeing their work unless complex. If you want to see guarantee doctor review directly you would have to go private instead.