Do pH nurses change their title to doctors?

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I am curious as to whether nurses are called doctors once they finish their pHD in nursing? I am not sure if it matters much to be called doctor but I imagine the extra knowlege is very rewarding because it can help patients directly.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
On 5/1/2020 at 3:46 PM, Numenor said:

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

Perhaps in your hospital ... but not in mine. We have "doctors" in many different fields. While we tend to use first names more often than not, when we use last names, most people show respect for their colleagues and use their proper titles.

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Specializes in Clinical Pediatrics; Maternal-Child Educator.

I think it depends greatly the context of the situation. In academia anyone who has earned a doctorate is given the honorific "Doctor". In polite conversation, anyone who you are not on first name basis with who introduces themselves as a doctor in any field is "Doctor" until they tell you otherwise. In terms of direct patient care, most people who have earned a doctorate (PT, Pharmacists, Nurses) forego the formality with as to avoid confusion with physicians. There are many people in the world who do not understand that the term "doctor" does not always refer to a medical doctor. It's more for ease of not having to explain yourself or to avoid confusing a patient. I have worked with many NPs who have either a PhD or a DNP and none of them have ever introduced themselves to their own patients with the title of doctor. However, I have seen one of these same NPs while doing clinical introduce themselves as "Doctor XYZ, a clinical instructor with ABC school." Personal preference also plays a role.

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

This crap has been beaten to death already. Anyone that holds a doctoral degree can introduce themselves as doctor no matter what setting you are in as long as you explain what kinda doctor you are. Not rocket science.

That being said, most of the time we just use first name in the various clinical settings.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Dentists are doctors; chiropractors are doctors; even veterinarians are doctors.

So I have no problems according those with EARNED doctorates their due.

It all depends on the situation and preferences.

Though I do dislike the bombastic, pompous folk who seem more impressed with themselves than others are.

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
37 minutes ago, amoLucia said:

Though I do dislike the bombastic, pompous folk who seem more impressed with themselves than others are.

This is not exclusive to those who have achieved academic doctorates of any kind ?

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Specializes in CTICU.
On 5/1/2020 at 3:46 PM, Numenor said:

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

Absolutely not true. I work with MDs, DOs, DPT, PharmDs, scientists, engineers... if they have a doctorate and we are not on first name basis, I call them "Dr xxxxx".

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
On 4/30/2020 at 4:43 PM, 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?

Yes. MDs and DOs are physicians, DNPs and DNSc are nurses, DPT are physical therapists, and so on. They are all properly called "Doctor."

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On 5/1/2020 at 2:49 PM, 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. ___" ?

I really love this post. It is about respect. Many of the MD’s I work with go by first names, however I always make a point of addressing them as Doctor before they say please call me xx... same goes for all the NPs with DNP, Psychologists and many other earned Doctorate staff. once I complete my DNP, I will always introduce myself in the clinical setting to pairings and staff as Spinmass from xx service and not Doctor. However I hope that staff who don’t know me would acknowledge my earned degree and not refer to me as Mr. Spinmass. 
 

I don’t think it is coming off as pretentious, it is a sign of respect. However maybe I am too old school. 

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I do not use the term Doctor in the clinical setting  and honestly in academia most students call me professor until I discuss my preferred title  (I am a clinical instructor, so I generally have them just call me by first name).  While I have earned the academic title....it's not important to me.

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I call them Dr because they earned that, I like being called a professional nurse for the same reason, and I don't like unlicensed people calling themselves nurses. 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

It's actually illegal in most places to call yourself a nurse or allow others to call you one if you are not licensed as one.

My kid c a PhD is called "doctor" to her face and in print. An earned doctorate is an earned doctorate. Interestingly, physicians weren't allowed to call themselves "doctor" for a long time, that title being reserved to academics. Many physicians in UK are still called "Mr."

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Haha Dr. Jill Biden was recently slammed for using “Doctor” with her name when she’s not a medical doctor. She was baffled that she would get bullied over something so silly.

I have a family member with a Doctorate as an NP but she NEVER goes by Dr.

When her mom passed away, she wrote the obituary and decided to list herself as Dr. Lindsey Smith as the surviving daughter in the obituary. She did this because her mom was SO PrOUD of those initials, especially considering that she (the daughter) was a HS dropout. Jealousy is ugly, the extended family have her a hard time by insinuating she was trying to show off to the community in a tacky and sneaky  fashion. I’m the only extended family she talks to now. 

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