More on NPs and health care reform

Latest articles, e.g New doctors within the hospital AND Doctor deficit? Nurses’ role could expand in 28 states highlight the role nurses can play in health care reform. Regardless of your opinion on health care reform, I consider that as nurses and nursing professionals, we must take this chance to indicate our patients our worth.

While our roles may overlap with other health care disciplines, our presence and expertise mustn’t pose a threat. Our goals are the identical – to maintain people well, to assist them once they do not feel well and to enhance their quality of life. Why can we care a lot about stepping on one another’s toes? As Anne Woods described in a previous post: Healthcare Providers: Will We Ever Play Nicely within the Same Sandbox?

I believe a part of the danger comes from the word “doctor.” Nurses usually are not doctors. It sounds easy enough, but the problem lies within the query: what should we call ourselves? I haven’t got that answer. While talking about this blog post with a friend, she told me the next story:

“I even have a friend with a Ph.D. who had a nurse accountable for a primary care clinic and employed a physician who worked along with her. When you called the office, the receptionist replied, “Hello, doctor’s office!”

Hmmm – is that an appropriate greeting? When I used to be at my internship, I introduced myself as Lisa. I didn’t feel comfortable when patients called me by name. I also explained that I used to be a nurse. Many questioned what this meant, some insisted on seeing a health care provider, and others were glad to have a nurse as a part of the practice. How do you introduce yourself? What do your patients call you? How will you explain your role?

Let’s go one step further. When a nurse has a PhD…what then? “Hello, I’m Dr. ________ and I’m your nurse.” Is this too confusing for patients? What do you’re thinking that?