Do you use the title "Dr."?

[DreameRN, BSN]

A conversation came up in my class today, about whether or not to use the title "doctor" after we graduate. We will have earned our doctorate, and my professor has their's as well, but mentioned that it is not well received by the MDs/DOs, and that it is each CRNA's choice to use it or not, but that personally it's not a battle they will fight.

My thoughts, naively I'm sure as I'm just beginning my schooling, is that I will have earned it, I will be proud of it, and I want to use it. It shows the level of education that I have acquired. I can see myself introducing myself as "I'm Dr. Dream, I am your nurse anesthetist that will be doing your anesthesia today.

Is this a pipe dream? Other fields that earn a PHD, or other things use the title Dr.

I know this wades a bit into the politics of the anesthesia world, and I'm sorry for that, but I'm truly curious how people that are in practice, identify themselves once they have earned that doctoral degree. Given that the requirement is going to doctorate, and eventually the majority will indeed have a doctoral degree, I think it's reasonable to use it. Thoughts?

[Spadeforce]

people can call themselves doctor if they have the title as long as properly followed by what they are. If you earn it and want to use it go ahead.

As long as they do not call themselves physician

[rawz2014, APRN, CRNA]

In some states it is a misdemeanor to use the title. Oklahoma is like that. The board of nursing doesn't like it, but the board of nursing states first you must follow all state and federal laws, and a slick mda who got elected was able to pass a law saying nurses couldn't use the title doctor. What sucks the most is they made this law only for nurses. Any other profession can use the term. Just not nurses in Oklahoma

[rawz2014, APRN, CRNA]

You can refer to yourself has nurse anesthegolosit though 🙂

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Sometimes it depends on the hospital too - at a local very large hospital, the only folks that can call themselves "doctor" are physicians

[Jules A, MSN]

Sometimes it depends on the hospital too - at a local very large hospital, the only folks that can call themselves "doctor" are physicians

This is my preference even more so now that I know first hand how light the DNP is. I also don't believe we should call PsyDs, psychologists, speech therapists or the maintenance personnel who now all seem to have doctorate degrees "Dr" in the clinical setting either.

It is confusing to patients and demeaning to physicians who did complete a rigorous and comprehensive education.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

This is my preference even more so now that I know first hand how light the DNP is. I also don't believe we should call PsyDs, psychologists, speech therapists or the maintenance personnel who now all seem to have doctorate degrees "Dr" in the clinical setting either.

It is confusing to patients and demeaning to physicians who did complete a rigorous and comprehensive education.

Totally agree with you Jules. This particular hospital system has this in writing. You may have the DNP or PhD credential on your name badge but you may NOT ID yourself as "doctor."

[cec0007]

Not all professions use the title. Attorneys have their JD degrees, and none seem to use the title "Dr." My daughter is an attorney, and she said that it's just customary that members of the bar do not use the title, even though they've all earned their doctorate degrees.

(Sometimes) when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

[Jules A, MSN]

Not all professions use the title. Attorneys have their JD degrees, and none seem to use the title "Dr." My daughter is an attorney, and she said that it's just customary that members of the bar do not use the title, even though they've all earned their doctorate degrees.

(Sometimes) when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Agreed. I look at it like this: I earned the degree not the title they are two different things.

[elkpark]

It is confusing to patients and demeaning to physicians who did complete a rigorous and comprehensive education.

I've been working in psych for 30-some years now. Every doctorally-prepared psychologist I've worked with over the years has gone by "Dr. So-and-so" in the clinical setting, and none of the clients ever had any difficulty understanding who was the psychologist, who was the physician, and what the different roles were. And psychologists do complete a "rigorous and comprehensive education" -- just not in medicine (although I suppose that is changing now that the for-profit diploma mill "schools" are offering on-line psychology doctorates ...)

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Physicians seem particularly concerned about this with nurses but not any other professions, which is interesting if their main argument is that patients might get confused. I don't think I've heard of many patients showing up to the dentist with chest pain because they are Dr. Dentist. Most patients seem to understand the difference between Dr. Psychologist and Dr. Psychiatrist. My wife is a college professor and many of her students call her Dr. Professor but to this date no one has asked her if they have strep throat. I've never had a patient go see the local Dr. Chiropractor for their COPD exacerbation. We have several natropaths here locally that happily use the term.

I very rarely use the term as I have no real need to. I'd rather patients and colleagues and staff call me by my first name, our doctors here do the same thing.

[jj224]

My opinion - the public perception of the title Dr. in a hospital / healthcare setting is that Dr = MD/DO/DDS. Think about how many people have no idea what a CRNA is. Saying I'm Dr. Doe, CRNA, doesn't do much to let the patient know that you aren't a physician, which I think is misleading.

I personally think the DNP, which I've earned, is nowhere near as rigorous as a PhD. I don't think I'm any better prepared than an MSN CRNA. It does nothing. For these reasons, I don't and won't refer to myself as "Dr."