Throughout my career, I have worked with different types of doctors. The Ph.D. doctors who ran research labs looked down on the researchers who were also Medical Doctors. They felt an MD was a lesser doctor than a Ph.D. researcher. As an Autonomous Family Nurse Practitioner, I have worked with MDs, but in Florida, I no longer require MD oversight. Some doctors have difficulty with this and need gentle reminders that I practice autonomously. Florida's change in this ruling removes the "failed to identify her supervising physician" issue Ms. Erny encountered, at least for this State. I have met people in almost every medical profession who obtained a Doctorate in their specialty, not physicians or surgeons and identify as doctors. But the DNP designation is treated differently. I did not pursue the degree because, in Florida, it accrued a large school debt without a substantial pay increase. Yet daily in my Primary Care clinic, patients call me doctor. And I have to stop and correct them out of fear of legal ramifications. I have asked patients why they want to call me a doctor instead of a Nurse Practitioner. Besides being too long of a title, they state that because of receiving such good care and taking care of all their concerns, they think of me with the respect of a doctor, even though they admit never receiving care from a doctor as they receive from me.
It is a fascinating social construct. Nurse Practitioners approach patients holistically, and doctors mainly medically only. NPs learn to cover everything, including education, in the short time our schedules allow us to spend with patients. We have adapted ourselves to uphold our training and our mission. My experience and observation of doctors limit the visit to diagnosis and medication with no education as to why the medicine is vital, how it works, or why the diagnosis is essential to address and correct. Indeed, there will be no discussion regarding lifestyle changes to support the plan of care as I do with every single patient.
I do believe the degree of Doctorate indicates the training required to be allowed to be called a doctor. But to patients, the care they receive and the sincere concern for their health and well-being means more than the degree. They call the people doctor that they feel deserve it, and those of us honored by such recognition will continue to correct them to avoid legal issues.
Throughout my career, I have worked with different types of doctors. The Ph.D. doctors who ran research labs looked down on the researchers who were also Medical Doctors. They felt an MD was a lesser doctor than a Ph.D. researcher. As an Autonomous Family Nurse Practitioner, I have worked with MDs, but in Florida, I no longer require MD oversight. Some doctors have difficulty with this and need gentle reminders that I practice autonomously. Florida's change in this ruling removes the "failed to identify her supervising physician" issue Ms. Erny encountered, at least for this State. I have met people in almost every medical profession who obtained a Doctorate in their specialty, not physicians or surgeons and identify as doctors. But the DNP designation is treated differently. I did not pursue the degree because, in Florida, it accrued a large school debt without a substantial pay increase. Yet daily in my Primary Care clinic, patients call me doctor. And I have to stop and correct them out of fear of legal ramifications. I have asked patients why they want to call me a doctor instead of a Nurse Practitioner. Besides being too long of a title, they state that because of receiving such good care and taking care of all their concerns, they think of me with the respect of a doctor, even though they admit never receiving care from a doctor as they receive from me.
It is a fascinating social construct. Nurse Practitioners approach patients holistically, and doctors mainly medically only. NPs learn to cover everything, including education, in the short time our schedules allow us to spend with patients. We have adapted ourselves to uphold our training and our mission. My experience and observation of doctors limit the visit to diagnosis and medication with no education as to why the medicine is vital, how it works, or why the diagnosis is essential to address and correct. Indeed, there will be no discussion regarding lifestyle changes to support the plan of care as I do with every single patient.
I do believe the degree of Doctorate indicates the training required to be allowed to be called a doctor. But to patients, the care they receive and the sincere concern for their health and well-being means more than the degree. They call the people doctor that they feel deserve it, and those of us honored by such recognition will continue to correct them to avoid legal issues.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. Such a thoughtful message.