A federal judge has ruled that nurses with doctorates in California cannot call themselves 'doctor' in clinical settings — even if they hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. In a decision issued September 19, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California upheld a state law that limits how professional titles can be used in healthcare. The court ruled that referring to oneself as 'Dr' without being a licensed physician is misleading and not protected under the First Amendment.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
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