Why DNP and not MD?

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I'm really curious about why the AACN wants all NPs to become DNPs. I understand the notion of "advancing nursing practice" but I think that there's going be a backlash towards this because (1)if you get the additional education, it doesn't mean you actually have the stature of and MD (2) what is it that you actually study? (3)if it requires you to get the same amount of schooling, why not just go for your MD?

I've worked in psychiatric settings, inpatient and outpatient, for over 30 years -- there have been doctorally-prepared psychologists (PhD or PsyD) in all those settings, and all those psychologists have gone by "Dr. So-and-so" at work. No one has questioned that or had any problem with that, including all the psychiatrists, who considered it only reasonable that individuals use the title they have earned. Even seriously mentally ill individuals have had no difficulty keeping track of who is the physician, who is the psychologist, and what the difference is between the two roles.

My experience is different than yours in hospital settings...

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I think you've called everybody that disagrees with you on this forum a troll, CNA, wannabe(something). Obviously the world revolves around the great bluebolt who trys to brag about himself in every single post he places about how he's traveled america and won the nursing grammy award 36 years running.

Just bc somebody has experienced something different than you and doesn't have the same opinion doesn't mean they are a troll. Jeez for a nurse you think very highly of yourself lol.

Why do I need research to state how much rural fp make when my bosses openly told me what they bring in every year? I have primary information, don't need anything else. You must not have any real Dr. friends if think they only make 175k, unless they in academia or something lol.

You have a chip on your shoulder.

For someone who I've never seen or interacted with before you seem to have a full knowledge of myself and my views including my other forum posts. Almost as if your nondescript account with no photo or identifiers may be an alternate account. In fact the way you form your arguments with no backing or any relevance and use phrases like "Jeez for a nurse you think very highly of yourself" give yourself away. I dare say you sound like SauceNP, maybe you're just cousins.

Of course internet trolls wouldn't create a few non-descript profiles with vague identifiers who have only been active for less than a year. That would be unheard of!

Either way it doesn't matter. If you were the most brilliant neuro-surgeon I've ever worked with and you gave out opinions with absolutely no research or backing I'd tell you to prove your theory. Any educated healthcare professional (that you claim to be) already knows this.

Just to prove a point, there are many nurses and APRN's who've I've disagreed with in these forums, research my posts if you'd like, I don't call them trolls or accuse them of being uneducated. I reserve that just for those I can tell are trolls.

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My experience is different than yours in hospital settings...

You've worked in inpatient psych settings in which doctorally-prepared psychologists were not addressed as "Dr. (Smith)? Where was this? What was the problem supposed to be?

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Actually, I am pursuing my DNP/PhD (not sure yet) not because I want to be called a Doctor but because I plan to teach at a Master's level online when I retire living on an island somewhere or while trotting around the globe.

And yup, I deserve to be called a Doctor once I have it :)

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You've worked in inpatient psych settings in which doctorally-prepared psychologists were not addressed as "Dr. (Smith)? Where was this? What was the problem supposed to be?

I was not clear... I was referring to how clueless patients are about healthcare personnels. For most patients, if you are not a doctor, you are a nurse especially if you are a woman.

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I was not clear... I was referring to how clueless patients are about healthcare personnels. For most patients, if you are not a doctor, you are a nurse especially if you are a woman.

Yes, that may be true in some settings. Hospitals are confusing places. I am a psychiatric CNS on the psych C&L service in a large academic medical center (working in medical-surgical settings, not in psychiatric settings). Everyone on my service wears white lab coats (like the other consulting services in the hospital). Often, when I first approach clients, they will refer to me as "Doctor" or "the psychiatrist" (despite my having introduced myself as a nurse). When that happens, I explain to them that I am not a physician, despite the white coat; I am a nurse from the psychiatry service. Takes about 20 seconds. In my experience, they have no particular trouble grasping the concept. Maybe you're not giving people enough credit. Sure, they might make assumptions on first glance and need to have the credentials and roles of different individuals explained to them, but, outside of people who are actually confused (delirious, demented, etc.), I haven't run into people having a hard time understanding when it's explained to them.

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Specializes in Urology.

I never understood why a person who has earned the title of doctor wasn't allowed to use it (in the hospital) since a doctorate is a degree and not a job title (Physician, Phyciatrist, Nurse Practitioner, etc). I also don't see why a patient would have any confusion as to what the person was there to provide for them. Aside from surgery and a few other specific areas NP work in the same capacity as physicians. They write orders, interpret diagnostic tests, and dictate the same as a MD does. The issue is our culture and public views on healthcare. "going to the doctor" has traditionally meant seeing a MD and eventually also a DO. Its just the way things have been brandished over time. With healthcare being flipped on its head and many changes being made that mold is starting to see some cracks. A lot of physicians are feeling threatened from various angles as more options for healthcare becomes available to the public. A Doctor in Nursing was virtually unheard of in the clinical realm 20 years ago, now it becoming a common sight. From a patient perspective, the NP and the Physician are providing the patient with the same course of care and therefor, no difference. Aside from surgery (which is really where MD/DO should be heading) there isnt much that an NP can't provide that a physician does.

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Specializes in Urology.

I also wanted to add that a lot of the physicians I have been running in to lately have been introducing themselves by their first name without the title. I like that. If I had a doctorate degree, I would still want people to call me by my first name because its what I'm used to. The title is great and in formal situations I would use it but for the day in and day out, my first name would be my go to. I think patients like when a physician does that to because it puts them on the same level.

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Who cares if people wanna be called doctor. Its just a term. Bigger things to worry about in healthcare. But I wouldn't go for a degree just for the title though, seems a bit shallow. But that probably doesn't pertain to most people, most probably actually want to do teaching or research which it is pretty much needed for at MOST schools it seems.

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I never understood why a person who has earned the title of doctor wasn't allowed to use it (in the hospital) since a doctorate is a degree and not a job title (Physician, Phyciatrist, Nurse Practitioner, etc). I also don't see why a patient would have any confusion as to what the person was there to provide for them. Aside from surgery and a few other specific areas NP work in the same capacity as physicians. They write orders, interpret diagnostic tests, and dictate the same as a MD does. The issue is our culture and public views on healthcare. "going to the doctor" has traditionally meant seeing a MD and eventually also a DO. Its just the way things have been brandished over time. With healthcare being flipped on its head and many changes being made that mold is starting to see some cracks. A lot of physicians are feeling threatened from various angles as more options for healthcare becomes available to the public. A Doctor in Nursing was virtually unheard of in the clinical realm 20 years ago, now it becoming a common sight. From a patient perspective, the NP and the Physician are providing the patient with the same course of care and therefor, no difference. Aside from surgery (which is really where MD/DO should be heading) there isnt much that an NP can't provide that a physician does.

Yeah! I will wait for the NP to read my brain MRI, CT/PET scan etc... I will also have them place my stent... They will also be in the pathology lab interpretating tissue samples. Seriously!

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I forgot to say, in my practice, no matter how hard I correct my patients, they call me Dr. Callie. They say that is how they see me. So, really DNP or not, it does not matter. It is how your patients see you and trust you.

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Specializes in Urology.
Yeah! I will wait for the NP to read my brain MRI, CT/PET scan etc... I will also have them place my stent... They will also be in the pathology lab interpretating tissue samples. Seriously!

Did you even read what I typed? Seriously! "Aside from surgery and a few other specific areas NP work in the same capacity as physicians"

Of course an NP wouldnt be reading a pet scan or placing a stent, thats pretty obvious. Stop trolling for no reason.

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