Are nurses and doctors equal?

[SisterofMary]

I feel like this question as been abused over time but I think in nursing school I was taught to respect my position and the importance of nursing care in patient's outcomes. Although I respect the doctor tremendously, should I consider myself an equal? Or a subordinate? I feel like it matters in terms of nurse to patient interaction. I do have patients who value my logic and thought processes but also who think I am the doctor's lackey. I think to be a nurse you have to have humility and for one's ego to be set aside because our decisions do require medical supervision. And I don't have problems being humble.

I still consider myself a new-ish nurse with a lot to learn about nursing. I consider myself competent with a commitment to learning. I am still working on confidence building.

Thoughts?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Well, sure. They are legally allowed to do anything a nurse can do. Doesn't mean they will, or want to. Therefore, there will always be nurses. One isn't less than or greater than the other. They're entirely different roles.

[JKL33]

I got into a discussion with someone in terms of nurse/doctor relations. They stated that nurses weren't equal to doctors because of schooling/knowledge/pay....which I agreed with. Though I said that doesn't minimize the importance of nurses (and other healthcare members) when it comes to the patient's health. Though they continued to say that nurses were "dispensable" because a doctor can do anything a nurse can do but not vise versa. I wasn't insulted so to speak though taken aback. I have had a few of the "Why a nurse, not a doctor?" conversations in my past but just wanted some other opinions so I respond to such statements in the future. That's why this came to my head.

Don't entertain these convos. Who has time for that silliness? These are just people who don't know what they're talking about and are just looking to irk someone. Let 'em find someone else to mess with.

If you personally don't feel good about what you're doing with your life that's an entirely separate issue than the differing roles of doctors and nurses.

[brownbook]

Are you really confused, or is this a rhetorical question? Are you referring to Clebeck's response? Because I can definitely validate what s/he is saying - in the eyes of the hospital, the physician is definitely higher in the hierarchy than a nurse. Physicians make money for the hospital; nurses cost money.

Yes that is true. But the original post implied a nurse was a lackey or subordinate. I read it as to they felt inferior. What's the famous quote....no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Feeling inferior has nothing to do with money or a paycheck.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Yes that is true. But the original post implied a nurse was a lackey or subordinate. I read it as to they felt inferior. What's the famous quote....no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Feeling inferior has nothing to do with money or a paycheck.

The OP was kind of all over the place and I didn't completely get a great idea of what exactly she was asking.

[brownbook]

The OP was kind of all over the place and I didn't completely get a great idea of what exactly she was asking.

We agree on that!

[SisterofMary]

The OP was kind of all over the place and I didn't completely get a great idea of what exactly she was asking.

Agreed. Just came out of working nights and everything I say tends to come out like mush so I don't get my concepts out the way I'd like. But I am trying to find a way to explain nursing role to people who aren't in health care when such discussions arise. Which I did now from people's responses which were very well put and thought out.

[Libby1987]

From an acute patient care perspective, the different roles are equally essential. Equally essential anecdotely anyway.. a hospital would implode if either group didn't show up. From a clinician perspective, each is dependent on the other to function.

3 decades in the business, in my experience the days of subordination are over. I know I am more demanding of the physicians than they are of me.

[Aunt Slappy]

Bottom line, a doctor gives me orders and I must complete them as an obligation of my license. I can do no such thing with doctors.

We all hold important roles, but no, nurses are not equal with doctors in a professional sense.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Bottom line, a doctor gives me orders and I must complete them as an obligation of my license.

That's actually incorrect. Even if you are completing orders, if it is an unsafe order and a prudent nurse would know that it is unsafe, following through with the order would constitute negligence/malpractice.

There isn't, or at least should not be, a hierarchy in healthcare. It has come a long way from what it used to be into now a team approach where the input and effort of all sustains the team. No one is in a silo.

[Ashley_SF, BSN]

I would disagree with the statement that doctors can do anything a nurse can do. The nephrologists I worked with at my last clinic would be the first to tell you that they have no idea how to operate the dialysis machines. Are they capable of learning, absolutely. Like others have stated, we are all necessary to insuring complete and accurate patient care. I'm sure many have been in a situation where their knowledge, as a nurse, was able to save a patient from a doctor's medication error.

Additionally, CNAs, patient care technicians, house cleaning, are all necessary pieces of the the healthcare team. Equality isn't based on who's paid more, who went to school longer or who gives the orders. We are all part of team. We can already see that when we take away the CNAs and patient care technicians, patient care suffers and people die. Similarly nurses and physicians are both equally necessary and important in the delivery of quality patient care.

[Roy Hanson]

In the eyes of the patient, both of u are equal. He is more equal than you. you are a NURSE..helping the doctor. Learn how to help & assist him.

[klone, MSN, RN]

In the eyes of the patient, both of u are equal. He is more equal than you. you are a NURSE..helping the doctor. Learn how to help & assist him.

The doctor is "more equal" than the nurse? How does that work, exactly?