Does this make me really horrible?

[vandiola]

One of the girls in my cohort wants to work in a developing country as a nurse. She mentioned she would like to work in MSF (Doctors without Borders), but she can't as she's not a doctor. I informed her they happily take nurses too, and she asked me what I thought of them. I totally respect what they do, but I dislike their title. More than 50% of their international work is carried out by nurses, but a lot of people assume only doctors work for them, even in adverts shown in this country it makes it come off as doctors are their only healthcare providers. I guess it just frustrates me that the other healthcare workers in their charity don't get the credit. Anyway, the way she looked at me made me feel like I was proper horrible cow.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

If you really feel passionate about this, why not use it as a learning experience to educate civilians and other medical professionals who might not know what the organization encompasses. Truthfully, until a few years ago, I also thought it was just all about doctors.

Engaging others in a dialogue might also make you feel less passive.

[GuEsT78]

You are right about the name. I did my best to get Google to tell me that medicins mean something other that doctors. Unfortunately, I drew a blank. Here is one list of the meanings.noun

doctormédecin, docteur, toubib

physicianmédecin

practitionerpraticien, médecin

curermédecin

medicastermédecin

Nurse would be words such as la infiriere. Medical is medicale. And the full name translates as "doctors without frontiers." "Medicine without frontiers" would be "La Medecine sans frontieres."

To their credit both their about page and their charter don't emphasize doctors:

About MSF | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International

MSF Charter and principles | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International

------

Why the less-than-accurate name? Possibilities:

1. Money. Doctors in the name is better for fund-raising purposes or for getting into troubled countries. Yes, I find it dubious that medicine would not work as well.

2. Unplanned. They simply weren't thinking back in 1971 when it was founded or, alternatively, the founders did not include nurses who could protest. In fact, that apparently was what happened. This is what their history says:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was founded in 1971 in France by a group of doctors and journalists in the wake of war and famine in Biafra. Their aim was to establish an independent organisation that focuses on delivering emergency medicine aid quickly, effectively and impartially.[COLOR=#373536]Three hundred volunteers made up the organisation when it was founded: doctors, nurses and other staff, including the 13 founding doctors and journalists.[/COLOR]

Here is a picture of some of the founders.

MSF history | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International

3. Cynical. Nurses and other medical staff will sign up with an organization whose name says "medicine" or "physicians." It's easier to recruit male doctors for an organization whose name stresses "Doctors."

-----

Years ago, among other responsibilities in a hospital I taught CPR and my classes were almost all RN. I never had any problems, even though I'm a guy.

One of my fellow teachers—a guy—told me something funny that happened in a class he taught to incoming residents. The instant the lecture portion broke up, all the male residents rushed to his side of the room. They did not want his co-instructor, a nurse and a woman, teaching them and perhaps telling them they were doing something wrong.

So perhaps the name MSF contains a hint to male doctors considering joining that they're not going to be bossed around by a woman RN, even if that RN has ten times the expertise they have.

[COLOR=#373536]Personally, I regard that as so silly, it's not worth fretting about. I respect competence wherever I find it and care little for pomposity and posturing.[/COLOR]

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

I actually like the name. It perfectly describes a physician led team that goes where the need is greatest. I would never expect recognition for being involved in a humanitarian aid project.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I'm guessing the organization STARTED with physicians.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

You are right about the name. I did my best to get Google to tell me that medicins mean something other that doctors. Unfortunately, I drew a blank. Here is one list of the meanings.noun

doctormédecin, docteur, toubib

physicianmédecin

practitionerpraticien, médecin

curermédecin

medicastermédecin

Nurse would be words such as la infiriere. Medical is medicale. And the full name translates as "doctors without frontiers." "Medicine without frontiers" would be "La Medecine sans frontieres."

To their credit both their about page and their charter don't emphasize doctors:

About MSF | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International

MSF Charter and principles | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International

------

Why the less-than-accurate name? Possibilities:

1. Money. Doctors in the name is better for fund-raising purposes or for getting into troubled countries. Yes, I find it dubious that medicine would not work as well.

2. Unplanned. They simply weren't thinking back in 1971 when it was founded or, alternatively, the founders did not include nurses who could protest. In fact, that apparently was what happened. This is what their history says:

Here is a picture of some of the founders.

MSF history | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International

3. Cynical. Nurses and other medical staff will sign up with an organization whose name says "medicine" or "physicians." It's easier to recruit male doctors for an organization whose name stresses "Doctors."

-----

Years ago, among other responsibilities in a hospital I taught CPR and my classes were almost all RN. I never had any problems, even though I'm a guy.

One of my fellow teachers—a guy—told me something funny that happened in a class he taught to incoming residents. The instant the lecture portion broke up, all the male residents rushed to his side of the room. They did not want his co-instructor, a nurse and a woman, teaching them and perhaps telling them they were doing something wrong.

So perhaps the name MSF contains a hint to male doctors considering joining that they're not going to be bossed around by a woman RN, even if that RN has ten times the expertise they have.

[COLOR=#373536]Personally, I regard that as so silly, it's not worth fretting about. I respect competence wherever I find it and care little for pomposity and posturing.[/COLOR]

Wow. You gave this A LOT of thought!

[Libby1987]

I don't think if nurses had founded the organization that they should need to change their name to be inclusive of all types of volunteers who eventually joined the efforts. I say whoever had the inclination and means to begin the work can own the name.

But it certainly doesn't make someone horrible to disagree.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

Fairly matter of fact.

Plenty of other organizations to work with. Heck, people live in third world conditions in the US - she can work here.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

And every time someone uses the French name, that Peter Gabriel song pops into my head.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Me too!

Jeux sans frontiers!

(not fluent in French, sorry if I totally butchered that!

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I work on a dairy farm. Cows are really, really stupid, though not as bad as sheep.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I work on a dairy farm. Cows are really, really stupid, though not as bad as sheep.

Okay, I'm lost

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Okay, I'm lost

Go back to the original post + you'll see the connection.