[chrisser]

Physician's assistants (PAs) tend to be much better trained (in my experience).

That's mostly the case in the organization in which I work, although there are a couple of standout NPs.

One thing I've found a bit annoying, though, are the NPs who go back and get a PhD in nursing. Then they want to be called "Doctor".

It's not their fault that the term is used for both MD/DOs and PhDs, but in a health care setting, when someone is called "Doctor", and MD/DO is assumed by the patients - not a PhD in nursing, however valuable that may be. Seems disingenuous to me, but I'm not a clinician so it's not my circus.

[farming pharmer]

In a hospital setting, in practice, the only reference of a 'doctor' is made to a physician.

Decades of degree creep has produced 'doctorate' level programs in Pharmacy, Nursing, Physical Therapy and the like. Only a small percentage of the most arrogant practitioners want others to refer to them as 'Doctor'.

I've met a few of these idiots and my response is to ignore them.