It takes years of studying and hands-on experience before someone can earn the title of “nurse” or “doctor.” Can you remember the first time you were referred to as a nurse, doctor or other position that you worked hard to achieve? Leave a comment and share your story!
4 CommentsDo You Remember the First Time Someone Called You Your Title?
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Sadly, yes. I was working in the ED taking care of a drunk who screamed out "Nurse Bobbie" and did so for the rest of the night.
Unfortunately, the title of Nurse is used very little, if at all. When was the last time anyone heard a nurse being addressed as "Nurse Patterson" for example?
I was first addressed as "Dr." about 20 minutes after my 2.5 h dissertation defense finished and my committe passed me and had finished discussing basketball scores while I waited in a hallway. I do enjoy enlightening people on the difference between "Ph.D. scientist" and "physician", who both are adressed as "doctor". In the laboratory, the Ph.D. is the "real doctor". In the clinic, the M.D. is the "real doctor".
I had moved to Baltimore and then defended my dissertation. Soon thereafter, I stopped at Chicken George, near home in West Baltimore, for a take-out dinner.
A child with his mother ahead of me in line asked, "Are you a doctor?" Stunned, I couldn't imagine why, how this child could know I was Dr. Kanarek but I answered "Yes." Only later, did I realize I was wearing a white jacket (not a white coat) that must have signaled the medical figure image in the child's mind.
The "later" realization occurred when I took my car to Comprehensive Car Care and saw a man in a white coat in the waiting area. I stood there thinking that medical staff from what was Maryland General take their cars here also. The gentleman turned around and his embroidered name indicated he was from the garage and I learned, the long time owner of the garage.
Aaaah perceptions!