Jill Biden, ED.D.

[Kooky Korky]

A couple of my friends have been putting Dr. Biden down.  They say her doctorate isn't really worth much, she should not be called "doctor" because she is not an MD, only MD's should be called "doctor", her work to earn the doctorate wasn't really worthy of earning the degree, and the like.

I say she earned it, she can proudly and rightfully call herself "doctor".

What say ye?

[nursel56]

Of course she should be called "doctor", unless she specifically requests otherwise.  I agree with you, Kooky Korky!

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

On 9/5/2021 at 10:31 PM, Kooky Korky said:

Why did you misquote me?

No, Flo, I do not have a doctorate.

I think you misread what I wrote if you think I am the one putting her down.

Some people are just haters - especially of a successful woman.

[Rodman]

I miss the days when Dr was reserved for physicians and dentists....  Now the door has been left wide open and anyone can claim the title which leads to confusion....

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

10 minutes ago, Rodman said:

I miss the days when Dr was reserved for physicians and dentists....  Now the door has been left wide open and anyone can claim the title which leads to confusion....

I miss the ice cream truck with music , jelly bean sandals and an adult Congress but things change.  Lots more people going.to graduate schools earned doctorates because of online programs and want recognition.  Change.or die on the process if accepting it:)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, Rodman said:

I miss the days when Dr was reserved for physicians and dentists....  Now the door has been left wide open and anyone can claim the title which leads to confusion....

I first when to college in 1977 and we called the professors Dr. So and So.  When was this ever not the case?  

But I get it.  We have DNP's now calling them selves "Dr. So and So" when they see patients, and I'm pretty sure the patients think they are MDs.  

[Beerman, BSN]

15 minutes ago, Tweety said:

I first when to college in 1977 and we called the professors Dr. So and So.  When was this ever not the case?  

But I get it.  We have DNP's now calling them selves "Dr. So and So" when they see patients, and I'm pretty sure the patients think they are MDs.  

I've been spoiled.  In the hospital I work, the culture is to go by first names.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

43 minutes ago, Beerman said:

I've been spoiled.  In the hospital I work, the culture is to go by first names.

I'm mainly talking about how they introduce themselves to patients.   I've never heard a doctor not say "I'm Doctor So and So".  We do have one DNP that introduces her self as Dr. So and So. 

In tight knit places like the ER and OR staff call doctors by their first names.  But mostly when I'm dealing with them but for a few exceptions they are called Dr.  However, DNPs, Pharmacists, Physical Therapists,  and PA's are always called by first names.

[Rodman]

On 3/31/2022 at 2:51 PM, subee said:

I miss the ice cream truck with music , jelly bean sandals and an adult Congress but things change.  Lots more people going.to graduate schools earned doctorates because of online programs and want recognition.  Change.or die on the process if accepting it:)

The depth of the degrees are not the same.

The pre-requisites for an MD and DDS are much more difficult and the actual programs for both are 4 years including summers with class work 8am to 5 pm.

I agree that the PhDs are in a different class and deserve serious recognition.  I do not beleive any of them are putting themselves out as clinicians (except psychologists) that would confuse the patients.  

This is not the case with DNPs or DPTs etc...

31 minutes ago, Rodman said:

The depth of the degrees are not the same.

The pre-requisites for an MD and DDS are much more difficult and the actual programs for both are 4 years including summers with class work 8am to 5 pm.

I agree that the PhDs are in a different class and deserve serious recognition.  I do not beleive any of them are putting themselves out as clinicians (except psychologists) that would confuse the patients.  

This is not the case with DNPs or DPTs etc...

That is not the case in your opinion...

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

6 hours ago, Rodman said:

The depth of the degrees are not the same.

The pre-requisites for an MD and DDS are much more difficult and the actual programs for both are 4 years including summers with class work 8am to 5 pm.

I agree that the PhDs are in a different class and deserve serious recognition.  I do not beleive any of them are putting themselves out as clinicians (except psychologists) that would confuse the patients.  

This is not the case with DNPs or DPTs etc...

I totally understand your point that an online doctorate doesn't compare to the rigors of med school.  But the fact is that they "earned" the title.  It should be up to the employer to ensure that people use clear titles to differentiate themselves from MD's.  The problem is that the train has probably left the station and I don't think we can stop it.  Probably never should have created the degree "doctorate."  So much status manipulation being.created.  

[MunoRN, RN]

On 3/31/2022 at 11:36 AM, Rodman said:

I miss the days when Dr was reserved for physicians and dentists....  Now the door has been left wide open and anyone can claim the title which leads to confusion....

Except those days never existed.

The use of the term "doctor" to  describe someone with advanced education who teaches others precedes the use of the term as specific to Physicians by a few hundred years.  

It's certainly more recently become a term common to Physicians which is something doctoral prepared nurses should be wary of when describing their position to patients, but it's not the doctoral prepared staff that stole the term from Physicians.