Patients who call you Dr. (implying MD)

Specialties NP

Published

Hi,

I was curious about what ya'll thought of this. Do you correct the patient or let them carry on? Sometimes it seems as though the patient is trying to compliment the NP by referring to him/her as Dr. Other times they don't seem to have a clue who we are.

I imagine it gets tiring to keep correcting people, but I wonder about the implications of not having our patients know we're nurses. Does anyone else experience this? I've seen it in both underserved and private practice settings.

I do remind folks we're NP's but many of my preceptors do not. What's your take? Is it comparable to CNA's or MA's not correcting patients who call them nurses?

(I am not referring to situations where the NP is a PhD or DNP)

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I would not let them keep assuming you're an MD. They're all nice when everything is hunky dory, but when things go south, watch out. If they think you're an MD, you'll be getting a nasty letter from their attorney.

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:bugeyes:reading this post made me think of how do you guys introduce yourselves? and do some patients ask what a NP is?? How do you explain to them that you are able to diagnose too. I once had a college proff./couselor in General arts who had no idea there were NP's. I kept telling him that is what I want to do and he kept telling me I was wrong in thinking there was a higher level RN. He told me I was mistaking with Licesens Practical Nurse intead of Nurse Practitioner. Can you believe this. A proff at a big University. SO this is why I ask. Just curious

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I remind the patient that I'm an NP. However, I've found that to many patients, "doctor" refers more to function than what they think the actual title is.

In fact, my patients sign a consent stating that they understand they will be seeing a NP not a MD.

I get called "Doc" or "Doctor" anyway.

If I know that the patient understands that I'm not a MD, then I don't continue to correct that person. That may be what you're seeing with your preceptors.

Not long ago, I had a patient who kept calling me "Doc." I'd told him at the beginning of the visit that I was a NP. Near the end of the conversation, after he'd said "Doc" numerous times, he asked: "So, how long have you been in this nurse practitioner business?" (I'm fairly new at this facility). Continuing to correct a patient like this would probably lose you the patient.

About a year ago, I was at Wal-Mart with my son and ran into a regular patient. I introduced them by name but, of course, didn't mention that "Joe" was my patient. My son asked anyway (before I could get my elbow into his ribs) "How do you know my mom?" and Joe replied, "She's my doctor." (He knew quite well that I was a NP). My son said "Oh, she's not a doctor, she's just a nurse!" (Whole 'nother topic, there!!). Joe looked at him and said: "She takes care of me, she's my doctor!"

There are plenty of patients who, if asked "Is she a MD?" would reply "No, she's a nurse practitioner" but who still use the term "doctor."

Bottom line is, I make sure the patient understands the difference, and then I let it go. Doing otherwise would annoy and offend many patients.

Of course, it's important for staff to be very clear about referring to you as a NP and not MD.

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Specializes in ICU.

In my clinicals I introduce myself with "Hello, I'm Yellow Finch, the Family Nurse Practitioner student working with Jodi" to make sure that my role is clear from the start. What they choose to call me after that is up to them.

As for my preceptor, I've noticed a couple of patients calling her Dr. Jodi. She hasn't corrected them, but at the same time, they've been patients of hers for many years.

I find the reference to Dr. as being more about the role she plays as a provider rather than a confusion over the educational experience and title. At least that's how it comes across in our setting.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm a CNS and believe me, if patients don't know what an NP is, they sure don't have a clue about me....lol. In IL, we all are advanced practice nurses so that is actually how I introduce myself. My patients are all chronically ill and I see most of them at least once a week and some two/three times/week. They all know I'm not a doctor, yet my population (inner city, very poor, some homeless) call me "doc" as a term of respect. Yes, they for sure know I'm not a physician, but it is just a term of respect for who cares for them (as mentioned above).

Also - I work with many VA patients and it is their practice to refer to all mid-levels as "doc" regardless if they are an NP, PA or CNS. When I meet a new pt or family member, I present them my card and introduce myself as an APN and explain my role. I also explain that they will indeed be seen by an MD monthly and that I consult with their MD when the need arises.

Now...when I'm in the hospital taking care of all new patients, I am very very careful to wear my name-tag (I have five different ones - one for each hospital) and I'm very clear that I'm working under the direction of a physician. (These are ICU patients for the most part).

So...the circumstances dictate what info I give and how often I repeat myself.

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I find the reference to Dr. as being more about the role she plays as a provider rather than a confusion over the educational experience and title. At least that's how it comes across in our setting.

I wonder how long it will take for patients to associate NP as a respectful term for a provider the way they associate Dr... ;). It's like a little medical culture leftover coming out. Interesting phenomenon.

To RN28MD, I also introduce myself as "Hi, I'm VivaRN, a nurse practitioner student working with Jane today." Some patients have asked about my experience and education, and I do my best to educate whenever there are questions or misconceptions.

Recently I was at a gathering with benefactors for our med school, one of whom loudly stated that we become NP's after some vocational training by MDs after high school. After choking on my coffee I spoke up so the group didn't go home thinking that. There are a lot of interesting ideas out there.

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I will always correct a patient if they are addressing me as Dr.

I believe it is important on many levels to correct patients....one of them being...if

you are doing a good job...that credit should go to us as nps.

Some already know but say 'I know, but you take care of me so I think of you as

'good as a doc'. Think the day will ever come when 'being as good as a nurse practitioner will be enough'?

I also introduce myself as a nurse practitioner to all new patients

and on rounds.

I have also had patients think that I am a practical nurse/lpn.

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several times after introducing myself as the nurse practitioner, patients, when addressing me will still call me 'doctor' to get my attention. When corrected, often I'm told that they feel they need a title and that calling me by my first name feels like they are not respecting me as a professional......

Interesting...

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Specializes in FNP.

Old thread, but still a big issue. I always introduce myself as Dana Higbee, Family Nurse Practitioner. Many of my patients continue to call me doctor or doc, or doctor Dana. After clarifying my identity a time or two, it seems argumentative to keep correcting them. They see me as their "doctor", which they see as a function, not a degree. I sincerely hope one day we'll be able to come up with some consistent title that will work both for us and our patients. Nurse practitioner takes so long to say...

Dana

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