A nurse would be just as effective for most ailments.

Nurse Practitioner? Sure.

Registered Nurse? No, they don't have the training for it. Some have picked up skills through practical experience, but that's an exception to the rule.

EDIT just want to clarify nurses don't have the training in diagnosis, similar to how doctors don't have much training in care.

While I do think we need to better employ nurses for first line treatment, and I want to say this with the upmost respect for the profession, a lot of nurses are dumb as shit. We've see so so so sooooo many being antivax during the pandemic.

My only wish is for doctors who have immigrated to be properly vetted before starting work in my country. Tried to get help for sudden, rather violent allergic reactions a couple of years ago. The first doctor told me to avoid fish on pizza and sent me home. The second thought it could be soda or energy drinks and did the same. Only after ending up in the ER swollen to shit did I get tested. Turns out it was neither pizza nor dr.pepper.