What do you think about nurses and PA's being called "Doctor"?

Nurses Activism

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I am wondering what everyone thinks about Physician Assistants and Nurses with Doctorate degrees being called "Doctor"?

I ask because there have been several times in the last few years that I have had family members be seen by someone that introduces themselves as "Dr. So&So", when they are in fact a PA, NP or a RN with a doctorate. While I very much respect NP's and nurses that have earned their doctorate degree, I feel that it can cause confusion with the patients. As for PA's, the PA's that I've seen have a Master's degree in Physician Assistant studies yet some are called Dr. I'm sure that there are PA's out there that have doctorates in some field but not too many that I have seen.

So, do you feel that it can cause a misunderstanding as to who is a medical doctor and who is not? I'm not trying to start a war here, just want a rational as to why it is a good idea in a clinical setting.

Specializes in ED, LTC, SNF, Med/Surg.

"I think someone has never stepped foot on a university before. You really need to look into the history of educational titles and the use thereof."

I beg your pardon... How many degree's do you hold? I have two - a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Economics as well as a BSN. I've stepped more feet on a university than you can count. It is because I hold these degrees and have seen the lack luster curriculum of other professions, that I feel educational achievement does not define titles.

State law in all 50 states confirms this. Try to practice medicine, nursing, therapy, architecture, education, carpentry, electrician, virtually anything without a license. You may be able to call yourself something for a while, and do it but it is not legal. You need a license. And just because you went to college for something doesn't mean you have a license and are legal to practice your trade. PERIOD.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
"I think someone has never stepped foot on a university before. You really need to look into the history of educational titles and the use thereof."

I beg your pardon... How many degree's do you hold? I have two - a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Economics as well as a BSN. I've stepped more feet on a university than you can count. It is because I hold these degrees and have seen the lack luster curriculum of other professions, that I feel educational achievement does not define titles.

State law in all 50 states confirms this. Try to practice medicine, nursing, therapy, architecture, education, carpentry, electrician, virtually anything without a license. You may be able to call yourself something for a while, and do it but it is not legal. You need a license. And just because you went to college for something doesn't mean you have a license and are legal to practice your trade. PERIOD.

Just because you are not licensed to practice in a health care profession, does not mean that you are not a "doctor." As others have tried to tell you, the word "doctor" refers to someone with a doctoral degree. People with PhD's in English are "doctor's" are are allowed in every state to use the title "doctor" outside the health care arena.

Some states have regulations (or regulations have been proposed) that require people in a health care setting to refrain from using the term "doctor" unless they are "medical doctors" -- in order to avoid misunderstandings. But outside the health care setting, all of those other people are still allowed to use their earned title of "doctor." Nowhere in the US prohibits people from using the title "doctor" outside the health care arena.

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When you say 'doctor' in a medical setting, it's synonomous with 'physican'.

Exactly.

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"I think someone has never stepped foot on a university before. You really need to look into the history of educational titles and the use thereof."

I beg your pardon... How many degree's do you hold? I have two - a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Economics as well as a BSN. I've stepped more feet on a university than you can count. It is because I hold these degrees and have seen the lack luster curriculum of other professions, that I feel educational achievement does not define titles.

State law in all 50 states confirms this. Try to practice medicine, nursing, therapy, architecture, education, carpentry, electrician, virtually anything without a license. You may be able to call yourself something for a while, and do it but it is not legal. You need a license. And just because you went to college for something doesn't mean you have a license and are legal to practice your trade. PERIOD.

There are titles of educational achievement.

There are titles of licensure status.

All medical doctors hold an educational title of doctor. Not all those who hold the educational title of doctor are medical doctors.

For someone so learned, I would think you would have had ample experience with those holding an educational title of doctor but were not medical doctors.

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Exactly.

Am I the only one who works in a facility with pharmacists, microbiologists, infection preventionists, nurses, and teachers who all hold the title of doctor? Thats just to name a few doctors.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Am I the only one who works in a facility with pharmacists, microbiologists, infection preventionists, nurses, and teachers who all hold the title of doctor? Thats just to name a few doctors.

No, you're not. Our unit pharmacist is a Pharm D. While we always call her by her first name, there was a recent hospital publication that included her profile and it referred to her as Dr. Fraser (last name changed to protect the innocent).

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Try to practice medicine, nursing, therapy, architecture, education, carpentry, electrician, virtually anything without a license. You may be able to call yourself something for a while, and do it but it is not legal. You need a license.

I disagree with this. I know retired physicians who have chose to let the license lapse. They are not legally allowed to practice medicine. Everyone still refers to the as "doctor." It is a title they earned by virtue of their education and whether or not their are licensed has no bearing on how people address them.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.
It's a gross misrepresentation of title and power and education level.

Please explain this. I hold the same "power" as my MD licensed colleagues though our educational paths and degrees differ. I do have occasion to use my title, "Doctor Devil" at times, as I am entitled, having earned it. I'd like to hear how I am "misrepresenting my power," according to you.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Oct 18 by Szasz_is_Right Quote from MedChica

When you say 'doctor' in a medical setting, it's synonomous
[sic]
with 'physican'.

What you are failing to account for, while once true, is that this is just simply no longer the case.

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I run into this problem when volunteering at a clinic where I translate. There's not a good, easy way to say nurse practitioner in spanish. (See this website http://www.practicingspanish.com/nursepractitioner.html) For a lot of my patients it seems like the provider will be a doctor whether they are in fact or not. Anyway, the PAs and NPs are very modest at this clinic and work completely within their scope of practice... it's just one of those difficulties in translation.

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A doctorate of any field is a terminal degree and so the person has earned the right to be called Dr. However, it is not prudent in a medical field to refer to anyone besides a MD or DO as doctor because of the confusion. Here in GA it is illegal for a NP with a DNP to refer to themselves as doctor. I'm currently working on my DNP and while it would be cool to be called Dr. Goofee, I won't be allowed that.

As always, check with your BON on the legalities of using the title Dr whenever earning the degree and practicing in the field of medicine or nursing.

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A doctorate of any field is a terminal degree and so the person has earned the right to be called Dr. However, it is not prudent in a medical field to refer to anyone besides a MD or DO as doctor because of the confusion. Here in GA it is illegal for a NP with a DNP to refer to themselves as doctor. I'm currently working on my DNP and while it would be cool to be called Dr. Goofee, I won't be allowed that.

As always, check with your BON on the legalities of using the title Dr whenever earning the degree and practicing in the field of medicine or nursing.

I wonder if Psychiatrists, Pharmacists, Microbiologists, or anyone besides a MD or DO gets to be called Doctor?

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