"Noctor?" Offensive title?

[Breathing16]

Do NP's find the title, "Noctor" (Nurse-doctor) offensive?

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

NPs and PAs ARE less educated than physicians. That does not mean they are lesser providers, but you will never win a "we are just as educated" argument. The numbers don't even begin to add up.

You misunderstood my meaning. I wasn't comparing us to doctors. I was saying the term "mid-level provider" in and of itself sounds like we're uneducated and only able to provide basic services. It's hard to convey tone & meaning on a message board :)

[DizzyJ DHSc PA-C]

Where is someone using this title? A title I've never ever ever heard of.

Let's take a poll....is the title "DORK" offensive?

[Julius Seizure]

Where is someone using this title? A title I've never ever ever heard of.

Let's take a poll....is the title "DORK" offensive?

Is that supposed to be a cross between a doctor and a fork?

[DizzyJ DHSc PA-C]

Is that supposed to be a cross between a doctor and a fork?

LOL...this poll just seems silly. Basically, if you are referred to as anything other then your given title, then it is incorrect.

[RN-dancer]

I call all the PAs and Practitioners "Clinician" or "Provider" so they can make their own introduction to my patient. I think mid-level is offensive. I'm a nurse would that make me low-level provider?

[Julius Seizure]

I call all the PAs and Practitioners "Clinician" or "Provider" so they can make their own introduction to my patient. I think mid-level is offensive. I'm a nurse would that make me low-level provider?

I can very much understand your reasoning here. To me, mid-level provider has never struck me as terribly offensive. Perhaps because I consider them separately. Meaning that the NP is the mid-level medical provider. Versus the bedside nurse who is a high-level nursing provider.

I suppose. I've never really thought deeply about it but that was just off the top of my head. I'm sure it won't resonate with everyone.

[Pachinko]

It's better tham "midlevel," which I find extremely offensive. Because, you know, MD=high level, NP/PA= mid level, and RN= low level. It's a political term.

Noctor as a combined nurse/doctor is kind of cute, but I've only heard it referenced as a contraction of "not a doctor," which is derogatory.

[GoodNP]

I call all the PAs and Practitioners "Clinician" or "Provider" so they can make their own introduction to my patient. I think mid-level is offensive. I'm a nurse would that make me low-level provider?

Excellent point!

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

It's derisive often used to imply a NP is overstepping their bounds or as short for not-a-doctor. NP is not a "mid-level" either..

[Jules A, MSN]

It's derisive often used to imply a NP is overstepping their bounds or as short for not-a-doctor. NP is not a "mid-level" either..

I happen to believe I am a mid-level provider, don't take offense to term and agree with the poster who mentioned this has nothing to do with RNs being "low level" as they are the top of their field. We are in a provider category and regardless of whether we have full practice authority or not it doesn't put our education and scope on equal footing with MDs.

It makes me sad to read some of the hostile comments toward MDs, and while I know there are a few who are complete tools or incompetent, the knowledge, camaraderie and navigational skills I have received from the physicians I am proud to call my mentors, colleagues and a couple friends has been invaluable. I think I'm a bad ass in my specialty, know for a fact I make top dollar, and yet can't imagine for one minute doing this without a few excellent psychiatrists in my cell phone. I have many NP friends who I respect and think are excellent at their craft but I go right for a Doc when I need assistance.

[blixkanaan, MSN, APRN]

It's definitely a derogatory title. So is mid-level...but it is what it is. Just a title to "keep us in our place" I guess. I'd prefer to be called a nurse practitioner....yea, that would be nice...