I'm curious how all of you here on AN who work in direct care address your patients?
In CNA "school" we were taught to ALWAYS address our patients by Mr. Mrs. or Ms. so-and-so but I rarely if ever do this.
My rational for how I greet my patients is that since I work night shift, many patients (for the most part) don't respond to Mr. so-and-so when they're dead asleep at 0300 and almost always respond to their first name. Also, I feel that if my patients are on a first name basis with me, I should be allowed to be on a first name basis with them. If I was a patient I would request to be called by my first name rather than "Mr. Kool-Aide." (Get it? "Mr. Kool-Aide?" Eh? Eh? lol) Furthermore, If I'm addressing the patient with their surname, should I expect them to address me as "CNA Kool-Aide?" Or should they be expected to address the nurse as "Nurse so-and-so," just as they address their doctor as "Doctor so-and-so?"
In short, I think that the intensions of this practice are good, showing our patients respect and whatnot, but can we not show them respect with our demeanor, attitude, advocacy and quality of care?
By not expecting our patients to call us by our title and last name as previously stated, does it set us up to not be respected by our patients?
I'm interested in opinions for both sides of the argument but I'm not looking to be lectured.
Keep it Holy! :)