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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Using Learning Outcome Measures to assess Doctoral Nursing Education
Published on: June 21, 2010
No longer a nurse, still not a doctor
1Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, United States.
None:
This reflective narrative explores an uncomfortable and unexpected encounter with a patient mistaking a young physician for a chaplain and asking her to pray. The essay reflects on themes of professional identity, communication, and the complexity of patient perception. The narrative uses humor and introspection to examine how physicians are seen in vulnerable moments and explores whether misidentification reflects a failure of clear communication or a deeper need of patients seeking comfort. Ultimately, the piece emphasizes the importance of presence, connection, and asks the reader to question their level of comfort (or discomfort) with misidentification in the healthcare environment.
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