hmmm…..
If you have your PhD. in Nursing and you are a nurse, would you be called “Doctor”? If you are a medical doctor (M.D.) would you resent others in the medical profession being called “Doctor”? This is becoming an issue as more pharmacists, nurses and physicals therapists earn doctorate degrees.
It would be confusing, wouldn’t it? How would you know who was a medical doctor and who wasn’t? And does it matter? More and more nurse practitioners are making diagnoses and prescribing medications. Certainly they can identify an earache and prescribe medications, but what about more serious ailments that have similar symptoms? And do MDs have that much better ability to ferret out those diseases? Isn’t it more or less instinct anyway?
I think if you have earned the degree you have the right to be called the name assigned to that particular degree. However, I also think that people who are not MD’s should not in any way disguise the fact that they are not bona fide medical doctors.
It’s a problem and it’s not going away. A lot of it has to do with ego. In our Presbyterian system, more and more Certified Lay Pastors are being called to serve churches who can’t afford full time ordained ministers. I spent three long hard years and a bucket load of money to obtain my degree and ordination and now am called Rev. for a reason. But maybe my ego is getting in the way, too.
We are here to serve. Ministers, Doctors and Nurses are each called in their own way to do the work that God has for them to do. Perhaps we should keep that first and foremost and leave our egos at the door.
hmmm…..
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