npr.org — Get yourself the highest degree in your field and you can probably call yourself "doctor." Now a new doctoral program, available at more than 200 schools, confers the title on nurses. But some doctors — physicians, that is — don't approve.
Feb 22, 2009 View in Crawl 4
Closed AccountFeb 24, 2009
Seriously? You just finished medical school and you can't understand the concept of a PhD in Nursing?
chuymattFeb 24, 2009
for those digging me down, Kugel:<a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kugel">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kugel</a>really tasty, unhealthy dish.
purag66Feb 24, 2009
@ChuyMatt: You're the one who doesn't even know what an allopathic provider is. Allopathic medicine IS mainstream, I think you're thinking of homeopathic, or god only knows what.
purag66Feb 25, 2009
D.O.s are considered physicians too, and they are taught a holisitc approach.
ozzie20Feb 25, 2009
For all those that are interested, the first class of the "doctor Nurse" graduated. If by graduated you mean fall flat on their faces. The national board of medical examiners gave the nurse graduates a watered down version of the USMLE step 3 exam (I don't expect many to know this, but it really is the easiest of all 3 exams). They watered down the exam so that it was easier, and still their pass rate was 50%. In passing this exam, they believe they have the training thats equal to an MD/DO. <a class="user" href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=605259">http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=6 ...</a>
nemomarlinFeb 25, 2009
The same word does cause confusion. In Chinese, the word for doctor as in a doctoral degree is different from a doctor as a physician. So no confusion there. I think it's just about ego. But nurse should not call themselves a doctor, because they're not. It's not worth it to confuse patients just for your own ego. If you aren't good enough to be a doctor, deal with it!
donnytomasMar 11, 2009
The Good Ole Boys Club is nervous...they've lost their presidency, they've lost on Wall Street and now they're worried about losing their medical racket.
nervenpApr 23, 2009
For One thing..this article is not really referring to a nurse having a Phd, it is about a new form of certification and training which is 3 more years on top of the 7 that nurse practitioners already have and is DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). Believe me,...if there were a way for a NP to go to medical school without having to waste the 7 years of education already completed, then this would be done instead of having to further the education with a DNP. But currently the program does not exist for this to happen. There are numerous statistically significant studies comparing NPs training and curriculum to that of a MD that attends medical school. The hours for clinical training and classroom education are not that much different in comparison. It is really pathetic that so many physicians think that NPs and PAs are trying to "take over" and push them out of medicine. It is even more ridiculous the amount of time and money they spend to fight against NPs and PAs politically. It is such a waste! It is a well known fact that there is a shortage of healthcare in the USA, and also that there are very limited numbers of primary care physicians to cover ALL of these areas where real people live and need care. The numbers of interns in medical schools choosing primary care as their field is growing smaller and smaller due to lack of reimbursement, insurance hassles, and much lower salaries for family practice physicians. If as much money,time, and effort were spent by physicians to help encourage those in medical school to choose family practice instead of spending this on fighting NPs and PAs it would probably serve a much better purpose for everyone. You never see NPs and PAs in these discussions or on the news saying "we want to push doctors out of medicine and take over"..Do you?? Of course not! We dont care and we also wish there were more physicians to cover needed areas. What we DO care about are THE PEOPLE, the PATIENTS, and those who need treatment and cannot get it. THIS is our focus, not badmouthing physicians for a power-struggle. I cannot understand why this is such a controversy continuously! We are here to help..help physicians, help patients, help everyone. If physicians would see that as possibly a positive thing that could work in their favor and open their minds to the reality of what NPs and PAs are trying to do, it would benefit both entities of professionals and mostly the public. Nurse Practitioners in rural areas, or any areas, in private practice can treat majority of health problems and do so with the same quality as a physician. Argue this if you want, but the studies prove this over and over. Patients like seeing NPs and PAs and should have that right and that choice for their own healthcare needs. The NPs and PAs also know what we cannot do, and in this case we refer to the primary care physician as a specialist role for any patients we need assistance with. There is absolutely no reason we cannot all work together. The main problem here is shortage of healthcare providers and the economy of the healthcare system as it is right now. It should not be fighting against each other for no purpose other than ego's. If we all work together, we can probably all come up with solutions to help the healthcare system, provide more people with access to care, and do what we are all trained to do whether your degree is a NP,PA,RN,DO,or MD...and that is just TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE. Why is this such a difficult concept??? Jbutler, FNP www.np-viewsandnews.com
troynpMay 15, 2009
The real reason there are not enough doctors in the US is because for decades the AMA has intentionally limited supply. This is affects the economic supply/demand chain in their favor. Fewer doctors mean less competition, huge salaries, strong political power and elevated social standing. This is a plain and simple antitrust monopoly! Doctors are not really concerned if your kid has an earache or you wnat the results of your test because they have insulated themselves with money and political power. So much for the "Hippocratic Oath" Medicine needs a wake up call. Nurse Practitioners have proven time and again they are better than docs at primary care. The reason why is they have been doing it longer and it was developed by intelligent women that include medicine and nurturing in a holistic practice.
troynpMay 15, 2009
The profession of caring for the sick began thousands of years ago. Women were the the first primary care providers(MD,NP,PA...) They lost out to men with political power and greed when the AMA started making laws to limit competition for their own monetary gain. The only invasion they are experiencing is NPs trying to take back what is rightfully theirs to begin with.Anyone can see what the current state of affairs in U.S healthcare is today. If MDs want to take credit for the current healthcare system let'em. Decades of research shows NPs are superior to MDs in primary care. NPs order, interpret, diagnose & prescribe independently and in collaboration with other disciplines.
marytormeySep 21, 2009
You actually made kind of a good point. Nurses aren't stupid! As time goes on nurses are being given more and more responsabilty. Now days some nurses can even prescribe drugs.Johnson and Johnson came out with an add campaign to convince nurses that they care about people (your a nurse you make difference), I responded with my add campaign (your a nurse you know the difference) I wanted nurses to realize that they do know when a medication is causing harm, and I wanted to empower nurses to refuse to prescribe dangerous drugs like risperdal.