[Victoriakem]

In the ED, Docs & nurses call each other by their first names, but it's Dr. blah blah to the patients. However, a co-worker, a long time nurse always introduces herself as Mrs. lastname, instead of using her first name, to her pts. This makes me wonder how seriously nurses are looked at when introducing themselves with their first names.As an ED nurse, I don't really have a problem with that, since there are so many serious illnesses & scared pts. & it's a way to diffuse things & make pts feel more relaxed. But, still, what does anyone else think about this? What are nurses introduced using their first names, & Doc. as Dr. so & so?

[kacrn]

In our ER we used to call our physicians by Dr..... However, a weirdo called one of our doctors at home, when asked how she got his phone number she replied, "I heard the nurses call you Dr..... and I called everyone of them in the phone book til I found you." This is the same reason that we do not place our last name on our badges. Shouldn't the docs deserve the same protection?

Originally Posted by trauma_junkie1

I've got a question for you all:

I work in a busy ED and we recently recieved a memo from our management stating that we had a new "Code of Conduct." Among other things (soem of which make good sense and some of which are rediculous) one of the new "standards" is that we (nursing staff) are to always address physicians by "Dr. Smith" instead of "John" (example...).

Now, when talking to patients, I refer to doctors this way, but when talking to the doctors, I use first names. We're all friends, it's a tight knit group. Even the doctors have said, "that's dumb, don't call me that." Our feeling is that this is an example of managment that is out of touch. (Most of our docs don't have any clue who the managers are and these are people who have GREAT relationships with the nurses!)

I can't think of any other profession that would be asked to do that. Doctors don't call each other "Dr" if they're close friends. I'm not talking about docs that we don't know, faculty consultants. I'm talking about our own ER residents! We will actually be written up if management hears us call them by their first name, citing that it's "unprofessional."

Am I nuts here?

[SandraHeartTeamRN]

Originally Posted by veteranRN

I know I am absolutely in the minority here but in the military we always addressed someone by their rank since it was something they earned. I feel physicians are the same way. If at all in a place of employment then they should be addressed as Dr. If outside work then that is a different story.

<<<<<Navy vet here, so I have no problem addressing the doctors as Dr so and so BUT then why am I Sandra?? BTW the nurses in my facility have only their first name on the front of their ID badges, of course they always flip over, LOL I'll have to start checking out other staff's badges

[alisunshine9]

And I prefer to be called "Your Majesty" but I live in the real world where working with doctors is called collaborative care, not subservience. How ridiculous is it that we have rules of properly addressing the doctor. I think we have more important things to do....like care for our patients!

[Victoriakem]

Not displaying surnames is a good safely issue. Some people I work with cover up their's with a sticker. I asked management why surnames were listed & it was supposed to be a professional issue. Don't really understand that one.

[kacrn]

I agree, I don't understand that one either. In this day and age I would think safety would come first. We can show professionalism in other ways!

Originally Posted by Victoriakem

Not displaying surnames is a good safely issue. Some people I work with cover up their's with a sticker. I asked management why surnames were listed & it was supposed to be a professional issue. Don't really understand that one.

[melpn]

Yes, if they don't mind, but never in front of patients. I'd actually prefer they'd refer to me as Nurse X in front of patients as well; I earned my title just like the docs did. I'd rather my patients call me by my first name (I think it makes me seem more approchable). But I should be given the same choice of how to be addressed that I give my patients. It's all about respect.

[fergus51]

Originally Posted by Victoriakem

Not displaying surnames is a good safely issue. Some people I work with cover up their's with a sticker. I asked management why surnames were listed & it was supposed to be a professional issue. Don't really understand that one.

I thought it was because patients have the right to know who is caring for them. Can't report "Sandy" to the BON or sue "Sally" for malpractice. As long as they have to right to see their medical records, they can find the nurse's full name from that. One of the reasons I have an unlisted number.

[Ruby Vee]

I don't call an MD "doctor" unless I'm angry with him. Or unless he's doing something really stupid (as in "Are you sure you really want to give 20 mEq of KCL IV push, DOCTOR?")

The head of CT surgery at my last job brought around a bunch of brand new residents to see our unit. He introduced me to the group. "This is Ruby. She knows everything, and if she calls you "doctor," you're about to do something really stupid. Don't do it." Another surgeon told the resident, "If a nurse calls you "doctor," she's saying "F*** you."

There's one in every bunch, though, that will tell you his first name is "Doctor." (And yes, it's always a male!)

[avahsmiles]

Before contemplating Nursing school i worked as a medical assistant at a busy Doctors clinic. I worked with two great doctors, one was 65 and the other was 35 years. The older physician was always addressed, DR. P*****. While the younger DR. prefered us to call him by his first name. However my co-worker and i were always courteous and called him DR. around patients, of course. The older DR. was very 'old school', but very professional and i learned so much from him, i respected his wishes to address him as DR, afterall i wasn't his family or close friend...