Can you be called "Doctor" with a PhD in Nursing?

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Apr 14, 2006

Funny thing, I've never heard a JD refer to him/herself as "Doctor" in any setting.

I say, if you've earned the degree, you should be able to use the title. If vets, podiatrists, chiropractors, dentists, and opticians use it - why should nurses be shunned? It is not as if any of the above are MD/DO's either. Are they misleading the public by using the title "doctor" or are they just reflecting the fact that they are educated at the doctoral level?

augigi, CNS · Apr 22, 2006

As I understand it, a physician educated in Australia or the UK does NOT recieve a doctoral degree, but rather an MBBS (Which I believe is a Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery?). I also believe that physicians are not addressed as "Dr. So and So" in the UK or Australia. (Please correct me if I'm wrong). So, how come then when they come to practice in the US, do they get the right to be addressed as "Dr."?

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Of course physicians are referred to as "Dr" in Australia (and the UK). SURGEONS are referred to as "MR.. so and so" - to distinguish them from physicians - never really understood working years at college and med school to become a "Dr" and then specialize further and lose it, but anyhow.

Patients call all of em "Dr". As a rule, I have rarely referred to anyone as "Dr" in a professional setting in Australian practice (me as a CNS in critical care) ... UNLESS it was in front of a patient. I mean, docs don't call me "Nurse so and so" - why would I call them Doctor something? We are professional colleagues, and I referred to them as whatever their name was.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 22, 2006

Lig, congratulations on your accoplishments. Nobody is taking it away from you. But it's a renegate way of introducing yourself to the patients as a "Dr" if you are not MD,DO,DDS,DPM,OD, or DC (in an outpatient setting). It's very confusing for your patients, and you may find yourself in the hot water, if the patient complains that s/he thought s/he was dealing with the "Dr" (medical/osteopathic etc) . Are you sure you are not projecting self-esteem issues on "some" posters here?
Take it easy

I am definitely NOT projecting any personal self-esteem issues onto the other people in the thread. As I have said many times before, I almost never use the "Dr." title. I almost introduce myself using my first and last name and then tell people what my role is at the hospital.

The few times I have used the "Dr." title have been in situations in which someone (e.g. a physician) has tried to push me around -- and I have felt the need to push back. That's happened a grand total of 3 or 4 times in the 9 years since I earned my PhD.

Using the proper title does not have to be confusing to the patients or anyone else if we communicate well. We should all be doing that on a regular basis. Physicians have just as much responsibility for communicating THEIR roles -- eg. med student? 1st year resident? fellow? attending? specialist? consultant? .... as do pharmacists, psychologists, epidemiologists, child development specialists, PT's, etc. who might encounter patients in a clinical setting. If we all tell the patients what role we play in their care, we can all use the correct titles without fear -- if we want to. Personally, I'll stick with my 1st and last name for daily use.

llg

mav00 · Apr 22, 2006

Would this apply to the OD or PharmD? When at a eye clinic is the MD called something different than the OD? My expereince is they are both referred to as Dr. Smith. Even though the educational differences are significant. Now compare the Family practice MD to the Doctorate NP (PhD or DNP. The gap between educational levels is smaller when compared to the OD and opthamologist. As I recall the OD is 3 years post Bachelors, the Opthamologist is at least 9 years post Bachelors. The FNP doctorate is 3 years post bachelors and the Family Practice MD is 7 years post Bachelors. I am not counting the years of RN experience between the Bachelors and starting graduate school. Maybe I am using "fuzzy" math? So we call the OD Dr. Smith and not the NP doctorate? I guess I am wondering why the OD Dr. prefix is not really questioned by patients/staff/ others.

All U.S. OD programs are 4 years plus 4 years bachelors. OD's don't usually work in hospitals.

OD is equivalent to clinical doctorates such as DPM, PharmD, DDS, DC, etc.

Real physicians (MD/DO) need to distinguish themselves better from the clinical doctorates and nursing PhDs.

desanobsn · Apr 22, 2006

llg, you go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

platon20 · Apr 22, 2006

As I understand it, a physician educated in Australia or the UK does NOT recieve a doctoral degree, but rather an MBBS (Which I believe is a Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery?).

Thats because in Europe and Australia, you go straight from high school to medical school. No college required.

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2006

I have really appreciated llg's comments so far; they are very articulate and well thought out.

I disagree with the contention that only MDs and DOs should be referred to as Dr. in a medical setting. I think that as long as Ph.D.s and those with clinical doctorates are COMPLETELY clear about their role, it is their right to be called "Doctor". (For example, my name is Dr. Mary Smith and I will be your physical therapist today." The title should not be restricted to physicians, because as llg said this puts them up on a pedestal.

In my experience, however, most people (except for those with low self-esteem), do not insist that others refer to them as Dr. I had one professor with a DNP who was the exception; she did not even want us to call her "professor", it had to be "Doctor".

My sister, who has a Pharm.D. and is finishing up her residency, has been called "doctor" by a number of her PHYSICIAN colleagues, so they obviously do not have a problem with this. I am sure that some of her students will call her Dr. when she starts teaching next year. That being said, she normally introduces herself by her first and last name both at work and in the community.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Apr 23, 2006

So in other words, you think its OK for a professor of middle eastern studies in a hospital who has a PhD to introduce himself to patients as "Doctor"
Sorry but thats wrong. If he was in a college classroom, fine. If he said "I'm DR. X, professor of middle eastern studies", thats fine. But its WRONG to refer to himself as "dr. x" with no qualifiers in a hospital setting

I think this is irrelevant, because why would a person with a doctorate in middle eastern studies be introducing themselves to patients anyway?

Jo Dirt · Apr 24, 2006

There is a sign at a medical clinic here that reads "Ben Hur, MD., PhD"

I guess his title is covered for sure, hehe.

prairienp · Apr 24, 2006

in my experience, however, most people (except for those with low self-esteem), do not insist that others refer to them as dr. i had one professor with a dnp who was the exception; she did not even want us to call her "professor", it had to be "doctor".
my sister, who has a pharm.d. and is finishing up her residency, has been called "doctor" by a number of her physician colleagues, so they obviously do not have a problem with this. i am sure that some of her students will call her dr. when she starts teaching next year. that being said, she normally introduces herself by her first and last name both at work and in the community.

i am a bit confused as i didn't know any dnp graduates actually existed as the degree is so new. she must be one of the first? maybe she was a dnsc or dns?

i am affiliated with a pharm d program, i assure you numerous pharm d request to be called "dr" and just as many shy away from the title. i suspect you will find the same in nursing. in my experience, nurses are much less likely to request the "dr" title in the clinical arena. i do understand and respect the desire to be called "dr" in the academic arena, they earned the degree. on the other hand, the pharm d has also earned the degree and deserves to be called "dr" in academia.

when given a situation where a physician, pharm d and dnp are in the same room with a patient neither the pharm d or dnp should be referred to as "dr". if the physician refers to the pharm d as "dr" the same should be applied to the dnp. although i can't imagine a dnp being comfortable in this situation, i can see the pharm d being okay with "dr" and not offering a clarification for the patient.

-Midget- · Apr 25, 2006

Why do you think the PharmD would be OK w/ it, and not offer clarfication...whereas the DNP would?

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

Why do you think the PharmD would be OK w/ it, and not offer clarfication...whereas the DNP would?

If you are referring to my post, it was unnecessary for my sister to offer clarification to the physician. He was calling her "Dr." because she is in fact a doctor of pharmacy, and he was well aware of that fact because they are colleagues. If someone ever did confuse her for a physician, she would certainly correct them. She is very prould to be a pharmacist.