An interesting article appeared in yesterday's New York Times debating the issue of nurses completing their doctorate, and labeling themselves as "doctors."
I find this issue particularly interesting because, as I've mentioned before, I'm currently in a Family Nurse Practitioner program. With the federal mandate that in 2015 all NP programs be eliminated and transitioned to DNP (doctorate of nursing practice) programs, I know that eventually I will be going back to school for my doctorate, and then I'm in the same position as the nurses in the aforementioned article.
It's a really interesting topic, and I'm sure with all the changes that are coming in healthcare, it will be something we see debated for a long time to come.
What are your opinions? Do you think that DNPs are going to "steal the market" from physicians? Do you think it's fair for doctors to pass legislation preventing doctorally prepared nurses from advertising themselves as "doctors?"
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Photo courtesy of Josh Anderson for The New York Times
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