Ask vets' advice on VA doctors

I am a service-connected disabled veteran. I do not want to be seen by an APRN at the VA. State Rep. Michael McAuliffe of Chicago has no idea what he is talking about in his article dated Oct. 3.

Has he asked any veteran if they want to be seen by an APRN? I was seen by a nurse practitioner on my last visit for my annual physical. At the time, had I known, I would have canceled my appointment.

The physical was nothing like what you get when you see a doctor. It was a total waste of my time. In the future, I will refuse anything that has to do with a nurse practitioner.

Rep. McAuliffe should keep his opinion to himself and at least do some research on what he is talking about by asking veterans if they want to be seen by a nurse rather than a doctor. I will bet that when he goes to a doctor, he sees a doctor and not an APRN.

For a common cold or something non-serious, an APRN may be OK, but if you really need help due to a severe problem, you need to see a doctor, not a nurse.

What they need to do is hire more doctors. If Rep. McAuliffe is a qualified veteran entitled to benefits for his service, let him see a nurse at the VA rather than a doctor and see what he says. Otherwise he should do more research before stating what is a good idea to him and not knowing what a veteran wants or needs.

John Billis Sr.

Lincolnshire