Alma Gonzalez Lisa Nordquist English Comp 1113-556 Feb 19, 2013

Nurse vs. Doctor In the medical field a nurse and a doctor are two professions in which share an ideal goal of making sure a patient is treated to the best of their ability. More often than not, they work together in many situations and though one would not function without the other they also have their differences. Being two great career choices, they have a different job description, authority levels, and origins. Generally, a nurse and a doctor work in similar environments with different job descriptions. A nurse, for starters, is tasked as a hands on role by physically treating a patient based on a doctors diagnosis . On the other hand, a doctor, is the one that requests exams be done to then evaluate and prescribe medication and treatment. A nurse will manage the medication and treatment and observe any reactions and well being of the patient. Nurses have a closer relationship with patients compared to doctors since they have more direct contact to them. Doctors tend to detach themselves from patients emotionally in order to work better. Therefore, patients will often be more comfortable with nurses than with doctors, showing a preference by the form of attention they are given.

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More often than none, doctors are at the top of the ladder of authority in the medical field as oppose to nurses. Doctors, usually are the ones that call order to all nursing staff and they must respect him and follow orders. However, there can be situations in which a more advanced nurse can be in charge, also known as a nurse practitioner, it is not that common for it to happen. Another example in which a doctor has no authority is if he visits another hospital or section in a larger hospital , then the nurse practitioner has direct authority over nursing staff if doctor is not in charge or present. Doctors are respected on a higher level than a nurse because of how they differ in their authority levels. The origins of a nurse and doctor differ by how far back they actually were founded. Medicine has been around for many ages. Doctors have been an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe and moved to America to the former European colonies. The roots are traced back to the early church days when doctor was referred to the Apostles, church fathers and other Christian authorities. A nurse,in the 16th century was more known as a woman with instinct who was taught by Mother Nature. Nursing was not a profession well respected by many until a couple hundred years ago because of two nurses in the early 1900s. Florence Nightingale and Clara Burton, pushed to change the perception of nursing. This is the time when they knew a nurse as a trained professional who tend to the sick and carrying out such duties under a physician direction. In the modern days a nurse has become the head, the heart, and the hands of a united foundation. After all the information provided about a nurse and a doctors differences, I hope that it gives people a better understanding and perception of these two professions.

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Both doctor and nurses are very important to the medical industry, In addition, also a complementary factor to operate a medical facility smoothly, with their daily job descriptions, authority levels, and knowing about their origins.