Nurses Masquerading As Doctors (INSULTING)

Nurses Activism

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The growing shortage of medical doctors, which will be made much worse by health care reform, will mean more and more patients are cared for entirely by "nurse specialists" and nurse practitioners, instead of physicians. Nurses are lobbying for increased prescribing privileges and for the right to be addressed as "doctor" in health care settings.

(link removed - the page is no longer available)

What do you guys think about this idiot, and the ignorant nonsense he is blabbering over on fox news? Kind of insulting to those of us who have spent years pursuing advanced degrees such as CNP, and often save lives and clean up messes made by arrogant, egotistical physicians...

A NP who holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice may call themselves "Doctor" if they so wish, as far as I'm aware.

MDs don't have to introduce themselves as "Hi, I'm Dr. Smith, MD."

Just because medical doctors feel they have a monopoly on the title doesn't automatically invalidate every other non-medical doctorate degree holder's right to use the same title. They chose to take the "harder" route to be in a health care profession and good for them. We need doctors.

Many hospitals only allow physicians to use the title doctor in a hospital. Other than that, I am not aware of any legal issues with calling yourself doctor... although it is misleading if you don't identify yourself directly as a nurse practitioner.

In a hospital, non-medical doctors should not call themselves doctor because in that arena, doctor=physician. Outside, it doesn't matter.

\ When Pres Clinton first got in office, he had townhallmeeting begging proscective medical students to go into Family Practice-there weren't many takers. Low wages and long hours. NP's are the logical answer to this void. the Dr. who wrote that article is also interested in commenting on the infidelities of the rich and famous(Schwartenager vs Schiever)

Instead of begging medical students to go into FM, he could have easily changed reimbursement, decreased governmental bullcrap that primary docs have to deal with on a daily basis, done loan forgiveness, and a whole host of other incentives that would have made primary care more attractive. It just doesn't make sense to go through 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency to have to deal with all the hassles primary care physicians deal with when you tack on a few years and skip the hassles and make more money working similar (albeit longer hours). Were the gov't really interested in increasing the PCP pool, they would do more than just beg. They'd actually put words into actions. Otherwise it is just more hollow words from a disingenuous government.

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A NP who holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice may call themselves "Doctor" if they so wish, as far as I'm aware.

MDs don't have to introduce themselves as "Hi, I'm Dr. Smith, MD."

Just because medical doctors feel they have a monopoly on the title doesn't automatically invalidate every other non-medical doctorate degree holder's right to use the same title. They chose to take the "harder" route to be in a health care profession and good for them. We need doctors.

But with the health care system in the state it's in right now, MDs need to stop whining and let NPs step up and fill in the primary care spaces they're leaving oh-so wide open.

Right on! Doctors don't want to be general practitioners. It doesn't pay as well as specializing and of course God forbid, there's decision support engines and standardized care plans they're held accountable to now. Can't have that. I've worked in a number of areas in health cares and industries, and while I hate to generalize, doctors of medicine are at large the biggest whiners in town.

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Just a point of clarification, NP's don't really want to go into primary care anymore than physicians do. At best only about 20% NP's go into primary care full time. ( I will find the literature later, I'm headed out for the night right now.)

And yep the title of Dr. in a hospital is dependent on hospital rules.

This guy is a douche, but it is interesting to read the underflow of these battles. Nursing organizations are quietly pushing legislation for complete independence from medicine, while physician organizations are quietly pushing legislation to limit nursing independence.

I guess at least this douche is open and honest about what he thinks and does.

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Specializes in Cardiac & Medical ICU.

This is what I really wanted to post on his Youtube Channel

You said in your article about the abhorrent practice of nurses so-called "masquerading" & pretending to be doctors, that the fact of the matter if that nobody has the guts beyond their political or popular-opinion brandishing to actually speak about this matter. But there you were, coming out like the Messiah to bring truth to the people. I mean really, who would take their sick child to a nurse practitioner? And COME ON MAN, who would even DREAM at the thought of allowing somebody like a nurse practitioner even assess a patient with chest pain? I am to become a nurse practitioner one day and the kind of ******** the defective brain cells in your head potentiated you to write, is just appalling. "Truth" is a publicated pillar of your practice and theory but I have never seen a bigger cretin or hypocrite than you. M.D? What a joke. More like a Major.D***head

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Specializes in ICU.

A DNP should not be addressed or asked to be addressed as a "Doctor" in a hospital setting, it is much to confusing to the patient...you know the one that matters. Yes you have a Doctorate in Nursing, but that being said in the hospital it implies medical doctor. Hypothetically an RN with a Doctorate in Philosophy introducing themselves as "Doctor", you just can't compare it!

NP's, PA's have their place as midlevel providers, with a very different scope of practice. If you want to be a MD/DO go to Med school otherwise introduce yourself and Nurse Practicioner or PA, hell I dont even call it insulting to anyone it mostly makes those who do it look like an idiot.

-RN

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A DNP should not be addressed or asked to be addressed as a "Doctor" in a hospital setting, it is much to confusing to the patient...you know the one that matters. Yes you have a Doctorate in Nursing, but that being said in the hospital it implies medical doctor. Hypothetically an RN with a Doctorate in Philosophy introducing themselves as "Doctor", you just can't compare it!

NP's, PA's have their place as midlevel providers, with a very different scope of practice. If you want to be a MD/DO go to Med school otherwise introduce yourself and Nurse Practicioner or PA, hell I dont even call it insulting to anyone it mostly makes those who do it look like an idiot.

-RN

In a sense, I agree. Nurse practitioners who are doctorally trained may have the right to call themselves "doctor" but they probably shouldn't exercise that right; it confuses the patient about who is the captain of the health care team (sorry, but its the MDs/DOs) and the patients should be our top priority.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Ablow is a kook, but I do agree with his comments in the "who do you want?" part of the article. I was never really comfortable with the idea of being cared for by a mid-level (NP/PA). Now that I am dealing with a serious illness, I don't want anyone other than a physician (MD/DO) managing my care. I'm sorry if some are offended by that, but it's my health on the line.

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Personally I've met a lot of dumb ass nurses and dumb ass doctors. Nurses and Doctors are the same to me, the only difference is a doctor wants to prescribe a medication knowing you in 2 minutes, and a nurse wants to take vitals get a history and make a plan for your health

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
A DNP should not be addressed or asked to be addressed as a "Doctor" in a hospital setting, it is much to confusing to the patient...you know the one that matters.
(empahsis mine)

Agree for precisely that reason: If an when I ever get my PhD I wouldn't mind being addressed as "doctor" because you know what--I will be a doctor whether anyone likes it or not. And I could explain to the patient that I'm a "doctor" and list my credentials giving me the right to call myself that...but some of them them may not understand it. And most won't care as long as they know I can take care of them. And all will still equate 'doctor" with a MD or DO no matter what I do..

And when it comes to patient care, the patient is the center of it..so I'd rather focus on the patient and let them call me Ms. Meriwhen instead of pushing the "doctor" point.

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So how do you all feel about PhD psychologists being called "Dr.?" Is it not also confusing when a psychologist is compared to a psychiatrist?

I have a PhD and whenever anyone calls me by "Dr," I feel uncomfortable. I believe context is everything...apples and oranges. Yes, DNPs are doctors. But different type of doctor. The word "doctor" simply means more than one thing! As a patient I would want to know the credentials of anyone who was providing medical care at any level.

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Attorneys are doctors, as they receive a, "Doctorate in Jurisprudence", I believe. Either way, the degree that attorneys earn is a Doctorate. You don't here lawyers referring to themselves as "Doctor so and so", do we?

Most people identify the term, "doctor", to be the medical kind that you see when you are sick. That is why it is confusing to patients. It is bad enough that patients can't figure out who is a nurse and who isn't. Why ad insult to injury and confuse them with another health care practitioner with the same title?

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Attorneys are doctors, as they receive a, "Doctorate in Jurisprudence", I believe. Either way, the degree that attorneys earn is a Doctorate. You don't here lawyers referring to themselves as "Doctor so and so", do we?

Most people identify the term, "doctor", to be the medical kind that you see when you are sick. That is why it is confusing to patients. It is bad enough that patients can't figure out who is a nurse and who isn't. Why ad insult to injury and confuse them with another health care practitioner with the same title?

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

*** With one exception I agree with you 100%. That exception is the academic enviroment. It is entirely appropiate for nursing students and fellow instructors to call the doctorate prepared nursing instructor or professor "Doctor" while in the college or university.

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