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Discussion

Proper salutation for a NP?

I'm sorry if this is a random question-but I figured this would be the best place to ask! Is there a special salutation for NP? I know a doctor I would refer to as Dr. Whoever, but I wasn't sure about a nurse practitioner... Would it still be Ms/Mrs/Mr or use Dr.? Thanks!

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    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms. etc. There is no special salutation ... unless they have a doctoral degree (which is becoming increasingly common now that the DNP has become so widespread.)

    If the NP has a doctorate, the correct salutation would be "Dr." if the person choosed to use it.

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    I disagree with the above, at least in a clinical setting. An NP, no matter if they have gotten the DNP or not, should be referred to as Mr/Ms/Mrs. unless they have also gotten an MD/DO.

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    It doesn't really matter what anyone's opinion is on the matter. The state in which an NP practices makes the determination on whether a DNP-prepared NP can be referred to as "Dr." It's a legal issue. Some states allow it and some don't.

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    • Guides

    I have tried to get my patients (who are mostly immigrants and non-English speaking) to call me by my first name, but they almost all insist on calling me Dr. and my first name. I've given up... I always introduce myself as an NP, but I guess it's easier just to call all providers "doctor". I'm not going to beat them up over this.

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    • Experts

    Most of my pts call me by my first name. A few call me "doc". They know I'm not the physician nor do I hold a doctorate but its just a sign of respect they give to me.

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    mine also refer to me as dr, i just let it go i introduce myself as a NP and I think many times they are just so busy thinking about thier sick child that they dont remember my title, and wanting to show respect for me call me the first thing that comes to mind and it could be a lot worse things to be called:clown:

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    • Admin

    I introduce myself as, Ms. Last Name, your Nurse Practitioner. Most call me this.

    Some call me, Missy First name.

    Others call me, Dr. First name. Like others here, they know I'm not a physician and continue to call me this despite my corrections.

    And, I have a couple who call me, Nurse Beautician.

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    I like "Shalom, how are you?" :)

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    Hello, I am X, a Nurse Practitioner. I'm still a new NP and I still correct the ones who call me "doc."

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    carachel2 said:
    Hello, I am X, a Nurse Practitioner. I'm still a new NP and I still correct the ones who call me "doc."

    I think correcting them is a sign of humility. It is a good characteristic to have whether an MD or a nurse practitioner.

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    • Experts

    I respectfully disagree with you Wowza - its not a sign of humility, its a sign of correctness. Just as I'm not a physician, I'm not a plumber or auto mechanic either.

    However, having been an APN for a few years, and after correcting the same pts over and over, it becomes insulting to them to cont the correction.

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    wowza said:
    I think correcting them is a sign of humility. It is a good characteristic to have whether an MD or a nurse practitioner.

    I'm not one, nor will I ever one, of those NPs who think we are equivalent to MDs. Our education is *not* in any way comparable to what they get and it is a slap in the face of their years of itnense education to let patients call us something we are not. I've never met a PhD outside the academic environment who insists on being called "Dr." and will resist calling any DNP colleagues "Dr." in front of patients. It is not a clinical degree and should not imply a clinical title.

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