Are patients confused about what to call NP's?

Specialties NP

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As future CNM, and possible FNP, I was wondering how patients address you? You are not a Dr., but you taking the same role. You're not playing to traditional hospital nurse role. So, my question, is how do you introduce yourself? What do you expect to be called by the patient?

I'm curious.

epiphany said:
As future CNM, and possible FNP, I was wondering how patients address you? You are not a Dr., but you taking the same role. You're not playing to traditional hospital nurse role. So, my question, is how do you introduce yourself? What do you expect to be called by the patient?

I'm curious.

This is a good issue. Most patients when they hear the first word Nurse, don't hear Practitioner. Many Patients end up calling you by your first name. I have a Doctorate degree. One patient called me Doctor, acknowledging my degree, but knowing I am a NP was quickly corrected by my Medical Director: She is a Nurse Practitioner with a PhD.

The NP profession is moving toward the doctorate in Nursing Practice and why not. You have doctorate of Dentistry, Optometry, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Chriopractic, Osteopathy, all recognized as doctors. Nurses are actually next in line when it comes to medicine, assessing, pharmacology, etc. We are the largest makeup of healthcare, why not a Doctorate in our profession?

Doctor of Nursing Practice sounds good, it is about time. Some questions would be raised again. Will employers and the like, prevent us from calling ourselves Doctors from bias reasons?

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castrorn said:
I just needed to comment on this. I have been working at an Ambulatory Care/ FP/Urgent Care for the past 5 years now. Been working with PAs and NPs and they are all great! We love them to death. Except for one NP in partcular whom everybody has been calling Nurse C. All of a sudden, she printed out a memo for everyone (MDs, RNs, MAs, LVNs) to call her Nurse Practitioner C, instead of "just Nurse C." A week after that memo, probably due to force of habit, I wrote down "pt to see Nurse C tomorrow as advised by me, RN" - she just went nuts and announced to everyone how she felt disrespected - that everyone, even in writing has to write her name down as Nurse Practitioner C, and not just Nurse C. I apologized but I felt humiliated since then, since she kept on repeating my offense, my name, the situation, etc. :o

Anyway, to make a long story short, everyone started calling her Nurse Practitioner C (some even use it as tongue-twister), while the other NPs are happy to be called Ms or Mr or NP (or course, understandably).

I've just started my post Master's NP program and I hope that I don't get that strict on titles. I know I worked hard for the title but that will not give me the right to humiliate a fellow RN on overhead microphone and countless meetings, memos and write-ups.

Nurse Smith or NP Smith is respectful. But addressing any nurse by first name to a patient I feel is unprofessional. We must behave more professional. When communicating with our peers, most prefer you call them by their first name.

In my clinical setting I notice the MA's address the NP's by first name. You are going to see Susie. The patient need to know who Susie is!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
DrEdwina said:
This is a good issue. Most patients when they hear the first word Nurse, don't hear Practitioner. Many Patients end up calling you by your first name. I have a Doctorate degree. One patient called me Doctor, acknowledging my degree, but knowing I am a NP was quickly corrected by my Medical Director: She is a Nurse Practitioner with a PhD.

The NP profession is moving toward the doctorate in Nursing Practice and why not. You have doctorate of Dentistry, Optometry, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Chriopractic, Osteopathy, all recognized as doctors. Nurses are actually next in line when it comes to medicine, assessing, pharmacology, etc. We are the largest makeup of healthcare, why not a Doctorate in our profession?

Doctor of Nursing Practice sounds good, it is about time. Some questions would be raised again. Will employers and the like, prevent us from calling ourselves Doctors from bias reasons?

Hello, Dr. Edwina

It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!

No, I do not believe we will be addressed as "Dr.", simply because it will be confused with the medical doctor. This is problematic all over and will just add to the confusion.

Lawyers and pharmacists are not referred to as "Dr." and I do not believe we will be either. At least not in clinical practice.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
DrEdwina said:
Nurse Smith or NP Smith is respectful. But addressing any nurse by first name to a patient I feel is unprofessional. We must behave more professional. When communicating with our peers, most prefer you call them by their first name.

In my clinical setting I notice the MA's address the NP's by first name. You are going to see Susie. The patient need to know who Susie is!

I tend to agree, DrEdwina. That is why I have patients and staff (when we are caring for the patient) address me as Mrs. (last name). Less confusion and shows respect.

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I brought this up matter because I was thinking about the power of having a title, and the respect it gives to our profession. I mean, there is a reason why doctors are addressed as such. They've worked hard to get the respect.

I have always been one to be more comfortable being called by my first name, but I rethinking this one. If I am a Dr., would like to be called a Dr., so if I am nurse, or and NP, why wouldn't I? I mean, we all take so much pride having the RN in our names and it's not just for us to know in private, but to show the world. Are we as nurses afraid to appear too commanding or authoritative? Why won't we collectively as profession insist on being addressed with a common title such as Nurse such-as-such?

Do we think that as professionals who work intimately and closely with people, we have to appear so caring and giving, that we decline to be conferred with a respectful title? I just wondered how this has happened to us. Judges, Chefs, police officers, even martial arts masters, all are addressed by titles, yet we don't have a common rule/regulation to be addressed by our professional standing.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
epiphany said:
I brought this up matter because I was thinking about the power of having a title, and the respect it gives to our profession. I mean, there is a reason why doctors are addressed as such. They've worked hard to get the respect.

I have always been one to be more comfortable being called by my first name, but I rethinking this one. If I am a Dr., would like to be called a Dr., so if I am nurse, or and NP, why wouldn't I? I mean, we all take so much pride having the RN in our names and it's not just for us to know in private, but to show the world. Are we as nurses afraid to appear too commanding or authoritative? Why won't we collectively as profession insist on being addressed with a common title such as Nurse such-as-such?

Do we think that as professionals who work intimately and closely with people, we have to appear so caring and giving, that we decline to be conferred with a respectful title? I just wondered how this has happened to us. Judges, Chefs, police officers, even martial arts masters, all are addressed by titles, yet we don't have a common rule/regulation to be addressed by our professional standing.

Hello, epiphany

I think this is a valid issue.

I also believe the NP/CNS/CNM should be most proud of their creds. The NP is viewed as the healthcare provider with more of a personal touch in comparison to the physician. That is one reason some choose to be addressed by their first name. It makes them appear more "caring" and less intimidating.

I do not think that this is necessary. The NP should be proud of the designation and be addressed as such. How the individual nurse chooses to be addressed should be a personal thing, too.

Good debate.

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I see no problem with letting my patients call me by my first name if they want.

But I do agree with Dr Edwina, when refering to other NPs one should be adressed by title and/or last name rather than the first name.

I let my patients refer to me by first name simply to help them feel more comfortable. There is no reason we can't be a patient's friend as well as nurse while they are with us.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Jazuta said:

I see no problem with letting my patients call me by my first name if they want.

But I do agree with Dr Edwina, when refering to other NPs one should be adressed by title and/or last name rather than the first name.

I let my patients refer to me by first name simply to help them feel more comfortable. There is no reason we can't be a patient's friend as well as nurse while they are with us.

I agree with you, if that is what you feel comfortable doing, then by all means do so. Many NPs do this. But, you can still be friendly by being addressed by Mr. or Mrs. or Miss or Ms. ......

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I would just address Nurse Practicioners as such:

NP smith....

It's still sounds professional.

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