Call them Doctors!

by Ania
(WI)

How is it deceptive? If you have earned it you should have a right to call yourself Doctor! Originally doctor was used for phd candidates and then it went more into the medical field but I think if you spent all the time to get a doctorate degree then you should be called doctor. I am so sick of people thinking you don't deserve to be called a doctor because you didn't go to medical school! Come on it is about time nurses get some respect!!!

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Call them Doctors!

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Jun 04, 2013
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Lol NEW
by: Anonymous

Nursing is the backbone of healthcare.

Jun 04, 2013
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Oh well.... NEW
by: Anonymous

That doesn't imply anything..... Maybe in your mind it does. lol. Nothing deceitful about it. FYI: It doesn't pay to attend medical school these days and I believe posts like this one were started because MDs are pissed advanced practice RNs are practicing medicine in every specialty. SORRY!

Jun 04, 2013
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Doctor? NEW
by: GasRn

I am so excited to get my Doctorate of Nursing because I plan to teach in the future. I do, however, agree with the physicians that we should not be introducing ourselves to patients as "doctors" because it implies we went to medical school. Everyone knows we do a lot of the scut work, but we chose to go to nursing school, as they chose to go to medical school. Physicians do not get to introduce themselves as nurses to their patients because they are not trained as RN's, and vice versa. Imagine if you were a patient, and a janitor with a PhD introduced himself to you as "Dr. Jones". Now this is a very skewed example, but just because he has a PhD in molecular biology and currently works as a janitor does not mean he should introduce himself as my "Dr." due to the implications it has to me as a patient. Let's be respectful to the physicians and all their hard work, and they will hopefully respect us for the training we undergo as well.

Apr 06, 2013
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Prior comment was written by a moron NEW
by: gfabs

Regardless of your profession, if you you achieve the level of doctorate or phD in any field you are a Dr. Period. And it doesn't matter if you are practicing medicine as an APRN-Anesthesia provider or a Medical Dr. You're still delivering the same care regardless. Nothing deceiving about it. The patient doesn't need to know you didn't attend "medical school."

Mar 07, 2013
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It is Deceptive NEW
by: Anonymous

Yes, one may earn a doctorate and they have earned the respect of being referred to as doctor. However, when one represents themselves as a doctor in the medical profession it implies they are a physician. A physician goes to medical school and completes a residency program. So, when a nurse, albeit a doctor in nursing, calls themselves a doctor in the clinical setting it is deceiving to the patient.

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