Do you ever get called, 'Doctor'?

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I get called "doc" or "Doctor" about 3 times per day. I feel bad about it, 'cause I'm not a doc. There is a definite societal stereotype going on here, but I can't help it. I usually say that I'm not a doc, then tell them that I appreciate the "promotion" LOL.

Anyone else experience the same thing?

Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
When I saw this thread, I just had to respond.

I am not male, but, I am a nurse practitioner.

When I take ER call, I am addressed as Dr. all the time. I try to correct at the appropriate time, but, usually does no good. I have people come up to me in grocery stores sayin, "You will work in the ER this week, cause so and so said you work every week and you are such a good doctor".

When I finally get it across...the response is:

"Oh, so when are you finishing Medical school? or, Why can't you be a doctor? or You couldn't pass the test?"

Sheesh!!!!! Really gets old.

Then there are those who have NO idea what an NP is and call me the:

NURSE BEAUTICIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I too am an NP............ I've never been called a nurse beautician!!! thats good!!!

when I was a practice nurse I was always being asked if I was practicing to be a nurse...........sigh.

now I get the same comments as you... dont you want to be a doctor... the answer is no. or I get asked if I failed to get into medical school........

I dont want to be a doctor.......... just a damm good NP! win the lottery maybe... buy a nice house in scotland... but I dont want to be a doctor!

Karen

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Lots of the stereotypes exist in people's heads from childhood. Maybe one of us creative Allnurses nurse should write a children's book about a male nurse and a female doctor to counter it. :)

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I think the stereotypes happen for alot of reasons....it's getting a little better now that I'm a little older (28), but people have always assumed I was the CNA b/c I was younger. I when I was working with hospice, the social worker who I was paired up with usually met the families first during the admission process...I found out she was "warning" them that she had shoes older than the nurse they were going to be getting, but "reassuring" them that I knew what I was doing... :D

Kathryn

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Specializes in TNCC CEN CPEN CCRN.
I get called "doc" or "Doctor" about 3 times per day. I feel bad about it, 'cause I'm not a doc. There is a definite societal stereotype going on here, but I can't help it. I usually say that I'm not a doc, then tell them that I appreciate the "promotion" LOL.

Anyone else experience the same thing?

Hmm, why would you feel bad about it? If you were wearing a shirt and bowtie while in a restaurant, and someone called you waiter, would you feel bad about letting them down that you weren't a waiter??

It's difficult, since nursing is still viewed as a female profession (albeit changing at a glacial pace). However, I take a few seconds to explain who really does the work around a hospital, and who makes the suggestions for care when their condition changes.

Myself, I get the 'doctor' thing constantly since I'm a white male who wears a white coat. I found it (the coat) the best for keeping me organized and warm during the night shift. :-)

I always find it humorous when our "difficult" patients start complaining about having 'never seen the doctor' until I come in the room. I then politely remind them that I'm the nurse and the 5ft tall, young looking indian woman who came in and asked them all those questions was, in fact, the doctor. :rotfl:

-Craig

RN, BSN... and others :D

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hmm, why would you feel bad about it? If you were wearing a shirt and bowtie while in a restaurant, and someone called you waiter, would you feel bad about letting them down that you weren't a waiter??

It's difficult, since nursing is still viewed as a female profession (albeit changing at a glacial pace). However, I take a few seconds to explain who really does the work around a hospital, and who makes the suggestions for care when their condition changes.

Myself, I get the 'doctor' thing constantly since I'm a white male who wears a white coat. I found it (the coat) the best for keeping me organized and warm during the night shift. :-)

I always find it humorous when our "difficult" patients start complaining about having 'never seen the doctor' until I come in the room. I then politely remind them that I'm the nurse and the 5ft tall, young looking indian woman who came in and asked them all those questions was, in fact, the doctor. :rotfl:

-Craig

RN, BSN... and others :D

And, thus you have made the point.

If you were making rounds with me I would guarantee the patient would speak to you first, refer to you as doctor, look to you for comments, and at the same time refer to me as nurse (of course I am.....nurse practitioner, not doctor), not make eye contact with me over you, and look to you for affirmation of MY comments.

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And, thus you have made the point.

If you were making rounds with me I would guarantee the patient would speak to you first, refer to you as doctor, look to you for comments, and at the same time refer to me as nurse (of course I am.....nurse practitioner, not doctor), not make eye contact with me over you, and look to you for affirmation of MY comments.

And this is exactly what I feel bad about, it's just not fair.

However, getting caught up in this stereotype is not my fault, and we all will have to deal with it. Constructive dialogue is what I'm hoping for. :)

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
And this is exactly what I feel bad about, it's just not fair.

However, getting caught up in this stereotype is not my fault, and we all will have to deal with it. Constructive dialogue is what I'm hoping for. :)

I surmise that you and I are on the same wavelength regarding this issue. The two of us have been in the same situation when patients and in fact, other health care providers refer to us as the "doctor".

You are correct, it will take constructive dialogue on the part of every male nurse and ALL male/female nurse practitioners to correct this misnomer.

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I get called "doc" or "Doctor" about 3 times per day. I feel bad about it, 'cause I'm not a doc. There is a definite societal stereotype going on here, but I can't help it. I usually say that I'm not a doc, then tell them that I appreciate the "promotion" LOL.

Anyone else experience the same thing?

yawn! yhea your right..even me who is only a first year student get called to be a "doc" there was one time when i wore my labgown and i forgot to take it off before going out from our laboratory...there was one patient who asked my" excuse me doc., wheres the ER department..lol..i just laughed it out and pointed out the location and say..maam;;; im stilla NURSING student..she laugh out and said..you look lik a doctor..i said..thanks..thats great..lol

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Specializes in ER.
I get called "doc" or "Doctor" about 3 times per day. I feel bad about it, 'cause I'm not a doc. There is a definite societal stereotype going on here, but I can't help it. I usually say that I'm not a doc, then tell them that I appreciate the "promotion" LOL.

Anyone else experience the same thing?

It happens sometimes, I don´t bother or feel bad about it.

Since there are more male doc´s than male nurses, when a man walks in the door it is more likely to be a doc. Simple as that.

"Promotion", "work for a living" - these comments just sound silly.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
When I saw this thread, I just had to respond.

I am not male, but, I am a nurse practitioner.

When I take ER call, I am addressed as Dr. all the time. I try to correct at the appropriate time, but, usually does no good. I have people come up to me in grocery stores sayin, "You will work in the ER this week, cause so and so said you work every week and you are such a good doctor".

When I finally get it across...the response is:

"Oh, so when are you finishing Medical school? or, Why can't you be a doctor? or You couldn't pass the test?"

Sheesh!!!!! Really gets old.

Then there are those who have NO idea what an NP is and call me the:

NURSE BEAUTICIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:rotfl: , I can just imagine being in your shoes. You somehow seem to be immune to it by now :)

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Several instructors at the nursing school that I went to told me that I would make a good doctor but not a good nurse.

I hold a B.S. in Biochemistry along with a nursing degree as I did then, over 20 years ago.

I have had more than one MD tell me that I was a better doctor than they were.

Of course, many patients refer to me as doctor.

Of course, I am into home health and hospice.

On my PDA, I have the Five Minute Clinical Consult, DxSaurus,MedCalc, Outlines in Clinical Medicine-Family Practice, the PDR Drugs, Pt. Tracker, and RN-Fast Facts.

Some nurses and some MD's would consider some of the software inappropirate for an RN. But, maybe, I'm an inbetween, a nurse-doctor!

Of course, I'm a male RN. :chuckle

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Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
Several instructors at the nursing school that I went to told me that I would make a good doctor but not a good nurse.

I hold a B.S. in Biochemistry along with a nursing degree as I did then, over 20 years ago.

I have had more than one MD tell me that I was a better doctor than they were.

Of course, many patients refer to me as doctor.

Of course, I am into home health and hospice.

On my PDA, I have the Five Minute Clinical Consult, DxSaurus,MedCalc, Outlines in Clinical Medicine-Family Practice, the PDR Drugs, Pt. Tracker, and RN-Fast Facts.

Some nurses and some MD's would consider some of the software inappropirate for an RN. But, maybe, I'm an inbetween, a nurse-doctor!

Of course, I'm a male RN. :chuckle

a 'nudoc' maybe???

sound more like a NP! I dont have a PDA......... and I'm envious of you having one.. that software sounds like something I could use!!

Karen

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