People really believe this????

[meanmaryjean]

I was speaking at a home schooling conference this weekend, and struck up a conversation with a young lady who told me "I'm going to become a nurse practitioner AND a surgeon". I told her the terms are not interchangeable- and she informed me "Oh no, nurse practitioners are going to be doctors starting in 2015!!" I made a valiant attempt to explain the difference between a doctorate and a physician - but she apparently knows better then I :)

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

Do you have any evidence for this? I have to admit I haven't researched the topic but this seems incorrect to me. I have a large patient panel in primary care. After a few years experience I can fairly comfortably state that to most of the people I see in practice the term "doctor" is one of respect for the person or persons that directly interface with them on health care decisions.[/quote']

Under this definition, "one of respect for the person or persons that directly interface with them on health care decisions," even health care professionals that have not earned a doctorate in any capacity could be referred to with the term "doctor." So even a Master's level NP, who hasn't "earned" the title "doctor" can call themselves such because they are the primary care provider for that patient. I'm not knocking Master's NPs, I'm just using that as the example because I see many of the proponents of using the term doctor as having "earned" it being the justification.

Although I can't cite any specific studies, I think it is safe to assume that certain assumptions do exist with the term based on its usage. Just take a look at these boards. Posters use the word "doctor" all the time, and we generally assume they are talking about the physician. For example, if someone said "I called the doctor at 3am," we would assume they meant the physician. We wouldn't think right off the bat that they might have called a DNP, because otherwise they would have stated NP.

I personally don't have a dog in this fight. I'm educated enough to know the difference between my health care providers and I couldn't care less what people want to call themselves as long as it's not blatant misrepresentation... Like the medical assistants that all themselves "nurses" (that's for BrandonLPN and RNsRWe ). However, the point of my post was to only to point out how use of the term can be misleading to laypeople.

[Nurse2BeInGA]

I agree that they have the right..... but I maintain that the vast majority of the public would only be confused by a NP or physical therapist who introduce themselves as "doctor". I guess if one were to immediately clarify with "Im a doctor but not a physician." And then they'd have to explain the difference. And, even then, most patients still wouldn't get it.

Don't underestimate the ignorance of the general public.

How many people go to the "doctor" and routinely see a NP or PA for their care, though? How many of those people actually think they are actually seeing a physician? It can get confusing, but if you earned the degree, it's acceptable to use the title.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

If we are going to get nit picky on who with a doctorate gets to call themselves a doctor and who with a doctorate does not, a veterinarian would certainly be included in the "does" list. If anyone deserves it more than others, vets do.

Everyone agreed to that. Anyone who's earned the title is entitled to use it. Not just an MD/DO.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

For laypeople, the term "doctor" is associated with the physician and the two terms are interchangeable in their eyes. It is very misleading for patients and the general public if everyone is running around calling themselves "doctor" because of the assumptions associated with the word, especially in the health care setting.

Edited to add: The statements of the young lady with whom the OP spoke should demonstrate quite clearly how incorrectly laypeople interpret different roles in health care to think she could do what a physician can because she would earn a doctorate in a health care field.

As I said, it's up to the provider to educate the patient. Stating it's just misleading and implying that therefore it shouldn't be done only insults the intelligence of the public and degrades the degree in the long run.

Times are changing. So should we - and we should lead the public in understanding the change. Otherwise no one should go to the trouble of advancing their education in the first place.

The public has learned what NPs are and what their role is. I certainly think they're capable of learning this piece of the puzzle as well.

Edited to add: and to say "everyone running around calling themselves 'doctor'" makes it sound as those who are rightfully doing it are as wrong as - sorry, but it's true - CNAs who refer to themselves as 'nurses'. They're not, they're legally wrong. A DNP who refers to him/herself as 'Dr. Whatever' is legally correct - they're wrong if they say 'I'm a physician' and can be legally reprimanded for the same.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I agree that they have the right..... but I maintain that the vast majority of the public would only be confused by a NP or physical therapist who introduce themselves as "doctor".

Don't underestimate the ignorance of the general public.

What would they be confused about? Who is making the treatment decisions? Who is legally and ethically reliable for their care?

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I agree that they have the right..... but I maintain that the vast majority of the public would only be confused by a NP or physical therapist who introduce themselves as "doctor". I guess if one were to immediately clarify with "Im a doctor but not a physician." And then they'd have to explain the difference. And, even then, most patients still wouldn't get it.

Don't underestimate the ignorance of the general public.

Also don't underestimate their ability to be educated or their general intelligence.

They eventually learned what NPs and PAs are. Why on earth is this any different?

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Under this definition, "one of respect for the person or persons that directly interface with them on health care decisions," even health care professionals that have not earned a doctorate in any capacity could be referred to with the term "doctor." So even a Master's level NP, who hasn't "earned" the title "doctor" can call themselves such because they are the primary care provider for that patient. I'm not knocking Master's NPs, I'm just using that as the example because I see many of the proponents of using the term doctor as having "earned" it being the justification.

Misrepresenting any degree you've earned or haven't earned can be reported as unethical practice - and probably eventually land you in legal hot water. I can't say I have an MS when I don't. An NP can't say they're a doctor if they don't have a DNP. If I don't have a PhD or DNP, I can't say I'm a doctor, either. Neither can a masters prepared PA. A doctorally prepared one, though, can.

'Doctor' does not signify PCP status - it legally signifies what degree you have attained. It has NOTHING to do, really, with health care! I have a friend with a PhD in religion. Guess what? She's a doctor!

DNPs and similar levels of education have earned the title. MSs have NOT, plain and simple, and they know it - as do the rest of us.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Also don't underestimate their ability to be educated or their general intelligence.

They eventually learned what NPs and PAs are. Why on earth is this any different?

But I think this is different.

With the rising levels of education, more and more non-physician healthcare professionals are being trained at the doctorate level. And anyone with this level of professional education is certainly entitled to the title 'doctor'. This is a fact.

But the association of the word 'doctor' with 'physician' runs deep. Very, very deep. There are very few Americans (relatively speaking) who realize the words are not interchangeable. With time the public will be re-educated. But for now, I don't really blame hospitals that tell their doctorate level NPs and PTs to avoid referring to themselves as doctors to patients. It's not fair, but I get it within the context of the situation. In our super litigious society, how many pts would claim they were mislead?

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

But I think this is different.

With the rising levels of education, more and more non-physician healthcare professionals are being trained at the doctorate level. And anyone with this level of professional education is certainly entitled to the title 'doctor'. This is a fact.

But the association of the word 'doctor' with 'physician' runs deep. Very, very deep. There are very few Americans (relatively speaking) who realize the words are not interchangeable. With time the public will be re-educated. But for now, I don't really blame hospitals that tell their doctorate level NPs and PTs to avoid referring to themselves as doctors to patients. It's not fair, but I get it within the context of the situation. In our super litigious society, how many pts would claim they were mislead?

I hear you, and that's a valid view - to a point.

Because it is seriously overstepping PROFESSIONAL boundaries (and it's no more than petting the MDs on the head and trying to soothe their bruising egos) for an establishment to tell a fully qualified, licensed professional what they can and cannot call themselves.

Not too long ago if you introduced yourself as an NP it opened up a whole can of worms with patients. "What's that?" "But you're just a nurse, right?" "How can you tell me all that - you're only a nurse!" And it still happens, yes - but it's very different now.

"With time the public will be re-educated", you say. Yep, I definitely agree - and that will NEVER happen if facilities pander to MDs and give them their way after they throw a temper tantrum because 'OOOOO, THAT NURSE IS SAYING THEY HAVE A DOCTORATE AND I DON'T LIKE THAT!!! OOO, THAT'S NOT FAIR!!'

Litigator: did Sally Sue/Jim Bob ever say he/she was a physician?

Person: well, they said they are a doctor.

Litigator: did SS/JB say 'I'm the nurse practitioner?'

Person: well, here's the paperwork that says they are. But they said they are a doctor.

Litigator: next case, please. This person is a doctor. Unless you can offer irrevocable proof that this person said 'I am a physician', the judge isn't going to listen.

OMG.

As I said, I can't WAIT for PAs to start saying, uhm, excuse me, but I too have a doctorate (many do), and you don't own the title. Because it will happen.

[sharpeimom]

I think I'd like to be referred to as Queen of the World now, thank you.

My delusion, my title :)

Would you like to borrow my Queen of Everything mug? I bought one for my Goddaughter when she was eleven and her hormones had kicked in, and she was going through a particularly obnoxious stage. She thought it was funny and so did her mom, but for entirely different reasons. An identical mug mysteriously appeared in my Christmas stocking when she was in college!

Sometimes my husband serves me tea in that mug. Hmm... Must be that "Doctor" thing at work again...

[ixchel]

I find myself explaining the differences in degrees to my husband frequently. Meanwhile, he knows my goal is to be an NP. Whether it'll be masters-prepared of doctoral will depend on where I choose to do graduate school. Regardless, he's heard this stuff 19 different ways, but he still doesn't quite grasp it yet.

Ultimately, though, it irritates me that those seeking to be addressed by the titles they've earned are considered snobbish or ridiculous, when those that seek to isolate that title for themselves appear to be justified in their cause. Honestly, it's insulting to assume the public is too stupid to understand the difference. I may explain to my husband 19 different ways that NP, DNP, and PA are all different, but he's not stupid enough to believe Dr. Smith, DNP is synonymous with MD.

If you want to know the truth, I think the more graduate levels of practice we add to the pot, in the 3,000 different specialties that exist, the more confusing its going to get.

[ReinventingMyselfAgain, MSN, RN]

Haven't our nerdy friends taught us anything about being a doctor?