To be quite frank, the DNP vs MD debate is really a joke; and I mean that in the lightest of ways.
I love nursing and nursing practice- I aspire to earn my DNP in the near future.
However, Nursing and Medicine are in actuality two different tracks.
While our education may overlap, they are not identical and truly do not compare to one another; same goes for Physician Assistants.
Soon, the Physician Assistants will have doctoral programs, and might be called, "DPA" (who knows) - but even though the PAs can say they go to "medical school" their training still lacks compared to the Medical Doctorate.
A doctor is a doctor, is a doctor - all it means is you have achieved higher education. Being a doctor of anything does not deem equivalence to a physician.
I may be a Doctor of Nursing Practice, or a Doctor of Physical Therapy, or even a Doctor of Physician Assistant Practice; but that will never equate to Doctor of Medicine.
Again, I am not bashing any profession - I personally have met a few Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners who EXCEED the knowledge of some of the Physicians I have encountered - but these are just a few.
I think a lot of the physicians feel as if they are being, "cheated" of "their title." All of this time, being a "doctor" meant medical doctor- but now the times have changed and EVERYONE is getting a doctoral degree; and there's nothing wrong with that.
I think that the evolving field of healthcare needs to adjust to these changes and everyone should introduce themselves by their title, for example:
"Hi, I'm Dr. Max, I am one of the Physicians in this hospital."
or
"Hi, I'm Dr. Joe, I am one of the Nurse Practitioners in this hospital."
Besides all of the political ideas regarding titles and names, I really think it is best not to over generalize by saying, "All physicians don't even see the patients" or anything like that- I think that we all are very important team members that deliver care to patients.
Those student doctors or physicians really are inferior if that is what they are posting on that site- not every physician thinks that way.
I think only insecure people are inclined to make such generalizations on both sides of the fence- we really are ONE TEAM and we work together.
Respect goes a long way, I treat the custodians with the same respect I give to the CEO's...
I think being a DNP is an AMAZING achievement, but not everyone with a DNP is knowledgeable and good at what they do; same goes for the MD.
At the end of the day, those letters after our names mean nothing to our patients; it is the care we delivered and how we delivered it that makes all of the difference.
We are ALL huge players of the healthcare team, we work together - there really is no competition (only on those silly forums that insecure people vent on).
Kindly,
MrCleanScrubs
