Do pH nurses change their title to doctors?

203bravo, MSN, APRN · Apr 30, 2020

This would apply to any nurse who hold a terminal degree. Ph.D., EdD, or DNP.

Any terminal degree that works in academia would be referred to as Doctor. Within a clinical setting it is hit/miss and often dictated by facility policy (many facilities will by policy not allow non physician provider cannot refer to themselves as Doctor as not to risk confusing patients.)

The most I see in clinical setting is that on jacket embroidery the terminal degree will be listed. Mindy834920, Nurse Practitioner, Ph.D. and then they will introduce themselves to patient's as "I'm Mindy834920 nurse practitioner." not "I'm Dr. Mindy834920 nurse practitioner. "

203bravo, MSN, APRN · Apr 30, 2020

there was another post recently discussing this same topic..

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 30, 2020

I work in an environment where most people use their first names. So that is what I do. Everyone calls me by my first name. I sign my e-mails with my first name only most of the time -- or just my first and last name, no initials. But my e-mail signature that automatically attaches to the bottoms of my e-mails includes my contact information as well as the proper letters after my name. That allows people to know who I am, what my credentials are and what department I work in.

But there have been a few times when I have been in conversations with med students or physicians who were trying to assert power over me or elevate themselves in some way because of their MD -- and I have responded using my "Doctor" title. Or because I teach part time at a local university, my "Professor" title. But I only do that power trip thing if someone else starts it.

Tegridy · Apr 30, 2020

Depends if your pH is acidic or Basic

amoLucia · Apr 30, 2020

For all the work that goes into an EARNED doctorate, the recipients deserve the accolade of Doctor. And where appropriate, I will use the title for them.

Guest1144461 · Apr 30, 2020

No NP I know uses the term doctor in an inpatient clinical setting. Culturally it just isn't a thing. Pharmacists and PTs are often "doctors" too, do we call them that?

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 30, 2020

16 minutes ago, Numenor said:
No NP I know uses the term doctor in an inpatient clinical setting. Culturally it just isn't a thing. Pharmacists and PTs are often "doctors" too, do we call them that?

You should call them "Doctor" if you are addressing them by their last name. Why would you deny them the title they have earned?

Do you call them "Miss" if they are unmarried? -- the same title you would use for a little girl? (Or do you use "Ms.")

Guest1144461 · Apr 30, 2020

45 minutes ago, llg said:
You should call them "Doctor" if you are addressing them by their last name. Why would you deny them the title they have earned?
Do you call them "Miss" if they are unmarried? -- the same title you would use for a little girl? (Or do you use "Ms.")

No one actually does this though. Clinical world is different from academia. We say Bob from PT or John the NP with the hospitalist team.

203bravo, MSN, APRN · May 1, 2020

20 hours ago, Numenor said:
No one actually does this though. Clinical world is different from academia. We say Bob from PT or John the NP with the hospitalist team.

I work with a physician that got a doctorate in PT prior to going to medical school.. I address him as Dr. Doctor ?

llg, PhD, RN · May 1, 2020

21 hours ago, Numenor said:
No one actually does this though. Clinical world is different from academia. We say Bob from PT or John the NP with the hospitalist team.

If you read my earlier post, you may have noticed that I use my first name in the hospital, too. But my question was referring to those times when people are not on a first-name basis. For example, the 22 year old new grad nurse and the 64 year old physician ... or PT. There are people who are not on a first-name-basis with each other. What happens then. Does the nurse with a DNP or PhD become the diminutive "Miss ----" while the 30 year old physician or psychologist become "Dr. ___" ?

Guest1144461 · May 1, 2020

55 minutes ago, llg said:
If you read my earlier post, you may have noticed that I use my first name in the hospital, too. But my question was referring to those times when people are not on a first-name basis. For example, the 22 year old new grad nurse and the 64 year old physician ... or PT. There are people who are not on a first-name-basis with each other. What happens then. Does the nurse with a DNP or PhD become the diminutive "Miss ----" while the 30 year old physician or psychologist become "Dr. ___" ?

Regardless, it still doesn't happen that way. The only "doctors" by name in he hospital are physicians.