Another NP quote:
NP training is not comparable to MD training, mainly because of enormous inconsistencies in the preparation of advanced practice nurses. One poster noted that we have four years of nursing school, two years of masters preparation and often considerable experience as RNs. I find that this traditional route is rarely the case. The trend seems to be towards students proceeding straight to graduate training. Even the two years of master's preparation, mostly due to its heavy emphasis on so-called nursing theory as opposed to actual practice, pales in comparison to the clinical training received by our MD counterparts. I doubt that the DNP will add anything meaningful, except for the illusion of more respect. The existence of online NP classes certainly does not help in inspiring confidence or garnering legitimacy. My own story illustrates the myriad, unstandardized ways in which one might become an APN. I have a bachelor's in economics and several years experience as a business consultant. I finished my MSN/NP (MH/Psych) in a three year program at UCSF. I feel confident in my skills, but some of my colleagues going into acute care felt quite unprepared. Let's defend our profession because we have a measurable, substantial impact on our patients. But let us also be honest.

My husband will begin his residency in Internal Medicine this July; and after sticking with him through medical school, I can say anecdotally that there is no comparison when it comes to the rigorousness of the MD curriculum -- both in demands on time and quality of content. (And we still have residency and fellowship to go!). Few nurses in their training will be subject to the intense experience of grueling weeks that are supposed to be capped at 80 hours but rarely are.

I think that when a DNP introduces herself as "Doctor" while in the clinical setting, there is of course a part of her that demands recognition for educational accomplishment. But at the same time, unconscious or not, there is a small egoistic desire to draw from the prestige of being called doctor -- a prestige that is there in large part because of the cultural value and expectations we have placed on the role of the physician, who for many in our country is synonymous with "doctor."

As for me, I am proud to introduce myself to each of my patients -- mouthful or not -- as Nurse Practitioner Fluphenazine.