Certainly increased level of knowledge, scope of practice, and responsibility must be considered. Intelligence, OTOH, is a much different matter. You might be surprised by the level of intelligence that some with different levels of knowledge/education, scope of practice, and accountability have.
I don't know which nurses are stirring this pot of agitation; but I can honestly say, for the most part, it does not come from those with whom I work. I fully respect the higher level of accountability. Being part of a mentality of denigration only increases the unnecessary tensions. A collaborative demeanor is more productive than an oppositional one. Obviously that has to go both ways. Titles only mean so much to me except for where the level of responsibility, accountability, and leadership is clear and appropriate. Beyond that, it is the person as an individual that ultimately has the most impact upon relations IMHO.
You should read the law. As long as the buck stops with me, we cannot even begin to compare levels of accountability and responsibility. When as many nurses as doctors will be dragged into court, we can begin talking about equality. When they will be able to do what I do on a daily basis, we can talk about equality.
In the meanwhile, dear healthcare "team" member, either help me take care of the patient, or just stay out of my way, please, while I run circles around you. I don't care that if I work fast I will get more work, I care that my patient gets the best care immediately, especially in fields like critical care. Take your shortsightedness and bureaucracy elsewhere, while I put the patient first. If I can do my paperwork and other non-clinical stuff only after my patient is tucked in, so can you. And it's not "your" pump, or "your" ventilator, it's the patient's, and whoever gets it adjusted the fastest should do it. Also, it's my patient, not ours, not until you are exposed to the same levels of malpractice risks and get to personally bill the patient.
Leadership is a big pompous excuse invented by lazy or arrogant people who put themselves ahead of the patient. Anesthesia and other urgent care fields are not places to flash one's male or female testosterone, or mimosa sensitivities. The leader is automatically the person who knows the most, and s/he shouldn't have to waste time with pleasantries to get the team to do their darn jobs.
I completely subscribe to the notion that one catches more flies with honey, but honey should come after discipline and competence, not as a given. We might all be fighting against the same diseased enemy, but let's not mix up who's in command during battle. "My dear nurse soldier, would you be so kind to shoot at that bug now, instead of after your break? Oh, thank you, you're the best!" There is a reason they are called "orders", not "proposals", in the EMR.
