IMO, she was misrepresenting herself to you. By saying in a clinical setting that she is a doctor, it is reasonable for the patient to infer that she is an MD or a DO. Anyone who has a PhD in French Literature or Medieval History is also a doctor, but it’s not appropriate for them to introduce themselves that way when you’re there to get a medical procedure performed.
Since NPs are doing more and more in medical offices, blurring the lines between NPs and MDs seems to be a way of mollifying patients who may not have the sophistication to know the difference.
I know the difference.
She is a doctor in Health and she was in a health setting not like she was a nurse with a Phd in history or something totally unrelated to medicine Her title is “Dr” Not almost Dr but Dr. She earned her title
But if it bothers you, find someone else. I personally would not have been upset, nor would I change unless I felt she was not good at what needed to be done Or if I felt a MD is needed These days< I check out my doctors carefully and am careful to get treated by one that meets my standards I do not go to NPs or PAs for certain things even if they are qualified because I have my preferences But someone who has a phd in health who refers self as Dr has not crossed any line to me. That’s an individual standard however
That’s my point:
Some patients may be under the misconception that this practitioner can provide full services (if she continues to say she’s Dr. Ellie). She told me there was nothing out of the ordinary. She didn’t think it was necessary to do a panel.
I followed-up with my doctor who did send me for labs, which I originally wanted, was diagnosed, and prescribed the correct meds.
I would find this confusing. Not “misrepresenting” exactly, but confusing.
I like seeing NPs and PAs. I have no objection whatsoever to having them do the vast majority of my health care because the vast majority of my health care is not rocket science.
But I do like to understand the credentials of the practitioner I’m seeing.
I think “confusing” is a better word @Marian. Thank you!
So a new medical doctor DH (a PhD) saw asked, "How would you like me to address you? As ‘Dr Dr Smith?’ " And DH said, "No, in your office, you can use my first name. But if you come to my office, it’ll be ‘Dr.’ "
I usually know the credentials. Usually, who ever schedules will mention the role, NP, PA, nurse, tech, whatever. Btw, I saw a new doc today (replaced mine, who retired.) This fellow is brand new to the profession, super credentials. He didn’t pull any rank on me. Intro’d himself as first name/last name. I liked that. The PAs and NPs in this practce do the same.
@“aunt bea” I feel she earned the right to call herself Dr. zzzz but she should say something like I’m Dr. zzzzz I’m a nurse practitioner. I also believe that psychiatrist and psychologist and pharmacist etc etc who have earned their doctorate also have the right to be called Dr. The pharmacist should said say I’m Dr. zzzz I’m a pharmacist so on and so on. They’ve earned that. IMHO
With that said I was curious if you feel as if a DO should tell you that they are a DO when they see you rather than an M.D.? there is definitely a difference in their education??Just curious.
There have been a couple of references in this thread to psychiatrists, as if they are not medical doctors. You all realize that psychiatrists are medical doctors trained in psychiatry, just like a family doctor is a medical doctor trained in family medicine, right?
@hermom1 She’s earned the right to call herself Dr. Ellie; I have no qualms with that.
But to use the title “Doctor” while examining me, just doesn’t sit right with me. How many health educators are allowed to conduct hands-on physiological examinations with JUST the title of Health Ed Ph.D?
I agree that it’s a misrepresentation for a non-MD in a clinical setting to introduce themself as “Dr.” We should be clear that a PhD has earned the title of “Dr.”, but does not play the role of “Dr.”
Anybody in a clinical setting who introduces themself as “Doctor” is implying they’re in the role of Doctor. PhDs can call themselves “Dr” all they want outside of a clinical setting where it’s understood they’re claiming a title and not a role. But in a clinical setting people are expecting the word “Doctor” to mean a role, not a title. The NP/PhD is in the role of NP, and should introduce herself as such.
What did her name tag say? If it read “Dr Elle, CNP” then in my opinion she was correct.in introducing herself as Dr. Elle, as long as she didn’t say “the doctor”.
I have pastor friends who have DMin degrees and others with doctorates in psychology and nursing. All worked hard to earn the title.
Her name tag read:
Ellie Walker, RNP, Health Ed. Ph.D.
and she said, “Hello, my name is Doctor Ellie and I am going to examine you.”
I would have preferred, “Hello, my name is Ellie, I’m a nurse practitioner”.
I agree with @anomander, there’s a difference between the title and the role. In a clinical setting, the word “Doctor” implies not how hard you worked, but what your role is. It’s not a reward for hard work, but a notice of what you are trained and certified to be able to do IN THAT SETTING.
It’s disingenuous on her part not to acknowledge that it can otherwise easily mislead the patient; in fact it presents the suspicion that that misleading is intentional.
So, her name tag did identify her as an RNP. IMO, she has every right to be addressed in the way she prefers. She earned that degree.
Thank you @anomander! This statement says it best:
@momofsenior1, so you’re saying a Registered Nurse Practitioner is allowed to call herself a physician?
I am licensed to work in a hospital by my state, and I see patients, but I would never call myself a physician. I often correct patients who do allude to me as Dr. Aunt Bea.
The degree is not a clinical degree. You can earn it online. So to use the honorific in a clinical setting is just as misleading as if her degree was in French Literature.
I missed that she said she was a physician.
My point is that just saying “Dr” as her title, which she is as a PhD, but having her name tag identify her as an NP doesn’t seem problematic to me.
If she said she was a physician, that’s a different story.