How do you address your patients?

Nurses General Nursing

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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." :D (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! :)

Specializes in ICU/Telemetry.

Initially, I always address my patients by their last name. I then ask what they prefer to be called or if they have a nickname. Nine times out of ten they prefer their first name.

Specializes in Med Surg.

We have a couple of characters who are regular patients who have gone by their nicknames for so long no one in town knows their real names. But I always start with Mr. or Mrs. unless they say otherwise or I have know them for a long time.

Specializes in Trauma/Tele/Surgery/SICU.

"did you not ask for their name and DOB when you gave medication?"

This made me laugh because I just spent two shifts with an elderly italian gentleman and I still couldn't pronounce his last name properly. I must have asked him 20 times and he very patiently humored me each time. He finally said honey give it up and call me Mr. P. please! :)

When we get an admission we always ask the patient how they prefer to be addressed and then we write it on their white board so every one knows. Most of my patients ask to be addressed by their first name or a nick. Personally, I always add Mr. or Mrs. in front. I tell my patient's to call me by me first name. I figure if I have a right to look at their behind, they have the right to call me by me first name lol. I do not think it diminishes their respect for me and I want them to feel comfortable with me. Of course there are always those patients who don't respect anyone regardless if its the docs, nurses, etc. I do not think having them call me by Ms. would change that.

We have a couple of characters who are regular patients who have gone by their nicknames for so long no one in town knows their real names. But I always start with Mr. or Mrs. unless they say otherwise or I have know them for a long time.

Not to get off topic but my grandfather went by his nickname so religiously that his real name is not on his tombstone. It was his nickname on his driver's license. When he filed for his social security in the 70s the SS Administration made him clear up who he was because they were about to cut him checks in his real name and nickname.

I almost always say "Mr" or "Ms" with their last name unless they tell me otherwise, or unless I am having trouble waking them up in the middle of the night. Then I try first names. Also, I have a habit of calling all my male pts, no matter their age, "sir." ("How are you doing this morning, sir?" "Anything else you need, sir") Some of the younger-ish ones (20s, 30s) get a kick out of this and give me a strange look/laugh at me but I honestly don't mean anything by it. Just habit.

Specializes in LTC.

I ask them what they wish to be called. 90% of the time its their first name. There are a couple of residents who wish to be called "Grandma" or "Nana" lol Just make sure its care-planned before you go up to them and give them a hug and say "Hello Grandma! I'm so happy to see you today!" (She melts when we do that).

I call my patients by their first names.

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