[drcube]

Nurse practitioners are doctors. None of the others listed can legally diagnose illnesses or prescribe treatment. That's the point. If nurses could open up their own practice and prescribe meds, that would be more like what the OP is proposing.

[pragone]

Nurse practitioners might have a doctorate in nursing, but calling them doctors is extremely misleading. They function is a very similar capacity to PAs, although PAs often have more capabilities.

All of the levels mentioned here have their places, but calling any of them "doctors" who don't have an MBBS, MD, DO, or equivalent physician-level degree is inappropriate.

[stvswn]

They do not require a doctorate in nursing -- it's a masters degree. ("MSN-NP")

[pragone]

Yeah, hence the "might"; some programs are doctorate degrees

[Thriptic]

PAs have prescribing power