I’m an anesthesia nursing student who will not complete the doctoral (DNAP) route. But I feel that this is the natural progression of many health and medical related professions.
For example pharmacists, physical therapists and occupational therapists are all able to complete clinical doctorate level education. Do I think it is a bit prideful to obtain a doctoral degree just to be called a doctor? Well, yes. But I think the majority of people with clinical doctorates are not going around calling themselves “doctors” as to mislead patients into believing they are physicians–that would be unethical.
Sure, I suppose one could rightly refer to themselves as “doctor such and such”, so long as it is made clear they are not a physician. Patients have the right to know who is delivering their service.
In the end I think this is a good progression from a knowledge and professional perspective, but if it is being used mainly to command greater respect, then it has lost is purpose to further benefit humanitarian services and becomes completely self-serving.