[NPInfo] WSJ Health Blog: "Dr. Nurse" ... comment

[Nbalkon at aol.com]

Good Day....
 
Am responding to the quote  below...
 
My name tag clearly states Nancy Balkon, PhD,  NP
 
It has been "the physicians" who have called me  "Dr".... and the patients 
who are often interested to know that nurses earn  advanced degrees.... yes, 
EVEN doctorates!
 
Sighhh.... the "medical school"/ "medical  education" argument is soooooo old 
and over-rated! Medical school is FOUR years  post baccalaureate 
education.... with.... "internship"/"residency"  thereafter....
 
Comparing this to APRN education [didactic  & clinical]...and... years in 
practice..... isn't worth the  bother....
 
WHAT is impt. is that we, as health  professionals, should "celebrate" and 
"respect" the uniqueness of one  another, collaborate professionally, and work 
together toward a common goal...  improving health care in this country!  This 
is the most profitable  expenditure of the energy wasted on turf battles!
 
"Also, since these nurses with a doctorate can use “Dr.” some  physicians  
worry that patients could become confused. “Nurses with an  advanced degree 
are  
not the same as doctors who have been to medical  school,” says Roger Moore,  
incoming president of the American Society  of Anesthesiologists."

_http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/04/02/say-hello-to-dr-nurse/?mod=WSJBlog_  
(http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/04/02/say-hello-to-dr-nurse/?mod=WSJBlog)  

Nancy Balkon,  PhD, ANP-C, APRN-CS, NPP
Southern New York State Representative --  AANP
Clinical Associate Professor, Stony Brook University School of  Nursing



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