Do you use the title "Dr."?

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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?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
"Good morning, I'm Dr. Smith your CRNA providing your anesthesia today."

I wonder if the CRNA seems a bit more cut and dry than other specialties? Hi I'm Dr. A, I'm a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, it sounds awkward to me and again I rarely hear it in its entirety. Likely CRNA is different based on the fact that at least for now there are still stringent admission requirements, but general NP education in my experience is lacking and the Doctorate component is largely laughable.

I'm definitely not complacent or apathetic. I do not want anyone dictating my use of my credentials however my credentials and title are two different things and I am resistant to patting ourselves on the back too hard with the current state of NP education. I suspect there will eventually be standards, some states already have ruled NPs can't use "doctor"?, as everyone including the Doctors of Basket Weaving continue to be pumped out.

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recently saw a PMHNP sign her name "such and such DNP, APRN-BC PMHNP, MSN" as she discontinued a patient's atypical antipsychotic because she thought she would fix her lip smacking with it.

all them doctorate letters yet no knowledge of what tardive dyskinesia is.'

not all doctoral degrees are considered equal. so while i honestly could care less unless it starts causing probs I can see why some states and hospitals limit this.

Cant make this stuff up. the psychiatrist im doing my rotations with just shook his head and said this is why we never let the PMHNP change meds besides PRNs until they prove themselves.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
recently saw a PMHNP sign her name "such and such DNP, APRN-BC PMHNP, MSN" as she discontinued a patient's atypical antipsychotic because she thought she would fix her lip smacking with it.

all them doctorate letters yet no knowledge of what tardive dyskinesia is.'

not all doctoral degrees are considered equal. so while i honestly could care less unless it starts causing probs I can see why some states and hospitals limit this.

Cant make this stuff up. the psychiatrist im doing my rotations with just shook his head and said this is why we never let the PMHNP change meds besides PRNs until they prove themselves.

Disgraceful and yet I have seen it also more than once. How embarrassing that facilities are recognizing this now although I guess in the long run it will help our patients and eventually right the damage some have done to our professional reputation.

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"Good morning, I'm Dr. Smith your CRNA providing your anesthesia today." That should take you less than 10 minutes. It encompasses all the information required to inform your patient about who you are, your education, and what you will be doing for them.

Actually, it doesn't, since I doubt most of the general population is familiar with either the acronym "CRNA" or what educational level it implies. The CRNAs I've known over the years have always gone the extra mile and identified themselves as "nurse anesthetist."

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Actually, it doesn't, since I doubt most of the general population is familiar with either the acronym "CRNA" or what educational level it implies. The CRNAs I've known over the years have always gone the extra mile and identified themselves as "nurse anesthetist."

I think every CRNA I know we introduce ourselves as nurse anesthetist. I will occasionally have patients ask what the CRNA on my badge stands for.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
"Good morning, I'm Dr. Smith your CRNA providing your anesthesia today." That should take you less than 10 minutes. It encompasses all the information required to inform your patient about who you are, your education, and what you will be doing for them.

Progress is never made with complacency or apathy.

Sure - as long as you explain to the person that has NO idea what a nurse anesthetist is, what a nurse anesthetist is. I can't tell you how many times I'll tell a patient in pre-op that I'm a CRNA and they'll later call me Dr. So and So, completely tuning out the fact that I'm a CRNA and not a physician anesthesiologist. So as long as the patient knows that you are a CRNA and what a CRNA is (not a physician), then go for it. Sadly, the APRNs that I have seen go in to introduce themselves to their patients don't do this and just say "I'm Dr Blank." This was in my ICU days. I have yet to see a DNP prepared CRNA introduce themselves as Dr.

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Specializes in CRNA.

What bothers me about using Dr is that I worry that it creates the impression that I really wish I was a physician. I am incredibly proud of the care I give and want everyone to be clear that I'm a CRNA. I don't want to give credit to another profession (medicine) for the great work I do. I am somewhat arrogant about being a CRNA and want to make sure I'm not confused with a physician.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
What bothers me about using Dr is that I worry that it creates the impression that I really wish I was a physician..

It does. I admire your sentiment with regard to being a CRNA but as a NP now I'm embarrassed. Hopefully CRNAs won't sell out to the As Seen On TV, no experience or admission criteria required...other than tuition check writing ability that is.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
What bothers me about using Dr is that I worry that it creates the impression that I really wish I was a physician. I am incredibly proud of the care I give and want everyone to be clear that I'm a CRNA. I don't want to give credit to another profession (medicine) for the great work I do. I am somewhat arrogant about being a CRNA and want to make sure I'm not confused with a physician.

I am very proud of all my education. I don't think using the title Doctor infers that you wanted to be a physician. I think it just infers that are proud to having earned your doctorate just like physicians are proud to have earned theirs. Patients and coworkers should learn and understand that there are a lot of other people with terminal degrees/doctorates other than physicians. Just my 2 cents.

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If I ever earn a Ph.D., you can bet I will call myself "Doctor".

It is almost unbelievable to me that some people on this thread don't think a nurse deserves to be called "Doctor" if one has earned the title.

And Oklahoma be ding donged. I'd work on getting that law changed right away.

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Specializes in CRNA.
If I ever earn a Ph.D., you can bet I will call myself "Doctor".

It is almost unbelievable to me that some people on this thread don't think a nurse deserves to be called "Doctor" if one has earned the title.

And Oklahoma be ding donged. I'd work on getting that law changed right away.

To me it's not a question of deserving, but of identity.

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Specializes in CRNA.
It does. I admire your sentiment with regard to being a CRNA but as a NP now I'm embarrassed. Hopefully CRNAs won't sell out to the As Seen On TV, no experience or admission criteria required...other than tuition check writing ability that is.

But the fact that you feel I want to be called Dr because I really wish I was a physician says more about you than me. If you didn't think a physician has more status and is better than a nurse, then you wouldn't make the assumption.

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