You might want to avoid this recruiting company

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 3, 2013

You are of course free to address whom ever you like, however you like. In the non-clinical setting I agree it is perfectly fine to do so. But in the clinical setting it confuses Pt.s to no end. The fact that I am male, wear a lab coat, and have a stethoscope around my neck, confuses them enough.
At the end of the day it is an ego issue. Earned, unearned, makes no difference. We are members of the most neurotic profession that I know of, except maybe social workers.
So Ladyfree28, let me get this straight. A person you knew/know, respected his aunt. He thought she was a doctor. So he wanted to be a doctor. But didn't become a doctor. Then finds out she had a nursing doctorate, (which one? We have 5 or 6). Then laments not going into nursing.
The inference I draw is the gentleman thought that becoming an MD was not achievable, but becoming a nurse with a doctorate would be achievable. Is that about the size of it? Hmmmm?

^ My COO at the previous job is a Dr. A MD.

My point is enlightening your pt is your choice. I had to do it as a LPN, when they asked. I did my elevator speech in 20 seconds. The same can go for a APN who prefers to be addressed as Dr. BECAUSE s/he has a doctorate.

I like clarity. If you can deliver the clarity, then do so...If and when I'm in that position, I would like to he addressed as Dr. No ego, it is what it IS. If I am a doctor, then that is my title. Respect it as I call you sir or miss or madam. My patients confusion has always cleared up with a elevator speech of transparency, and focused on the care from there. They walked away aware and appreciative of the roles in nursing, and above all improved in their care or how to manage their care...nothing wrong with that. :)

alicia125 · Mar 3, 2013

I think it's the same if you call someone Miss and the correct you and say no I'm married pls address me as Mrs....what is wrong with correcting someone and having them call you by the correct title....the recruiter was rude and the OP has every right to ask to be called by Dr....they earned it...and it should not matter if its a DNP or PhD or EdD or MD or DO it was earned!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 3, 2013

I'm an NP. I go by my first name. I am not a doctor. I don't expect to be referred to as such. In my state, calling yourself a doctor without the proper creds is frowned upon.

That being said...the recruiting party likely took your reply as snarky and responded in kind. Do I agree? I can't say for certain, since I didn't view your actual correspondence with him. I can say that a polite request to use my title met with a basic "I'll call you whatever I like" response would probably have garnered a response in kind that isn't fit to print.

Then again, I'm a touch brassier than most.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 3, 2013

I just want to say that I've had only good experiences so far with Delta and the recruiters I've dealt with have been consistently professional, curteous and helpful. I suspect that whoever you corresponded with is getting some "retraining." Whether or not someone thinks it's silly for an APN to demand to be addressed as doctor, the response was over the top and completely unprofessional.

nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP · Mar 3, 2013

Nurses truly are our own worst enemy.

Bet, I do the SAME job as a physician and I DO get the same pay. Imagine that.

The rest is not even worth responding too.

The post reeks of jealousy.

WOW, I guess I am unable to comprehend what I am reading. You know what, you need to get off your high horse. Who cares that you spent an extra year doing some capstone project to get your DNP. Whoopdie doo, now you want to be called Dr. in the clinical setting?? What next, you expect to earn the same as a MD? I bet you couldn't even pass USMLE step 1. Seriously, this shouldn't be an issue.
And your last article you posted is very biased towards the DNP. I have NEVER heard a pharmD, lawyer (JD), or even a physical therapist with a doctorate address themselves as Dr. in the clinical setting. Why should you?

honeykrown, MSN, NP · Mar 9, 2013

I do believe it's either you don't speak english or you find it hard to grasp. If this was the way you replied the recruiter, I do believe he responded in kind.

this post in particular "Your post is difficult to understand. It seems you are saying "that for no reason would you call yourself a physician or Dr. without the degree". I assume you mean either MD or DO? What about podiatrists, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists and psychologists? They are an MD or DO."

Please reread what I wrote. You are not wrong in wanting to be called a Dr., that's your degree you earned it but note that if I become a NP with masters, I cannot call myself a Dr. and a generic email sent to people I would not expect them to have titles. I have received several letters from bank that do not put Ms. or Mrs. I cant get all snooty that they left out my title.