I do understand that there is less education (and "clinical" training i.e. residency programs etc.) when it comes to CRNAs, FNPs, PA but the basics are there. Nobody is claiming that mid-level providers have as much education as physicians by any means but they are definitely competent in what they do. Just because some random PA accidentally (or maybe unknowingly) gave a kid some steroids doesn't mean that every mid-level provider across the nation is a complete idiot. I work in a float pool and travel to all of the ICU's for Intermountain Healthcare here in the Salt Lake valley, and about half of them are mostly run by nurse practitioners, with an attending physician nearby. They work hand-in-hand, get along great, and catch each other's mistakes all the time. There are physicians out there that make mistakes as well. 

I as a nurse wanted to further my education and move on to more autonomy. I didn't however want to go back and do 2 years of prerequisites and 8 more years of school to become a physician. I'm the first to acknowledge that I'm not going to know everything and that there is a steep learning curve, and I hope that my studies will help me be the best mid-level provider I can be. I'm not brave enough to open my own practice as an NP, but maybe after some time and experience that could be an option. I know many people that are successful in doing this kind of thing!