Will doctorally-prepared nurses confuse patients and the public?
• No. The title of Doctor is common to many disciplines and is not the domain of any one group of health professionals. Many APNs currently hold doctoral degrees and are addressed as “doctors,” which is similar to how other expert practitioners in clinical areas are addressed, including clinical psychologists, dentists, and podiatrists. In all likelihood, APNs will retain their specialist titles after completing a doctoral program. For example, Nurse Practitioners will continue to be called Nurse Practitioners. Of course, DNPs would be expected to clearly display their credentials to insure that patients understand their preparation as a nursing provider, just as many APNs, physicians, and other clinicians are required and currently do.
