I have a surname. I'd like to use it.

[1Tulip]

At the hospital at which I'm planning to work, Nurses' name tags say (in big letters) SUSAN and in little letters below that... Smith, RN. Consequently nurses are called by their first names just like the housekeeping staff are.

Back in the old days... I called my patients "Mr. Brown" or "Mrs. Smith". I introduced myself as "Miss McCann". Amonst ourselves we used our first names, but we called the doctors "Dr. Jones". Am I a complete fossile living in another era? Seems to me that peer professionals should be given similar courtesies.

Guess I'm dreaming, huh?

[ShayRN]

I feel uncomfortable when someone calls me Mrs. M. I want to look around for my mother-in-law. I am 35. I was raised calling teachers Mrs/Mr. But my mom's friends were all on a first name basis. My children call our close friends by their first name, but those that we just know in passing Mrs/Mr. The docs at work all call me by my first name, I do address the elderly by Mr/Mrs until given permission to call them by their first names. Funny, I never really gave it much thought until now.

[Brotherbob, BSN, RN]

It is also a cultural difference. We use first names always, in school, in hospital, everywhere, and it has been that way as long as I can remember. To the extent that if I adressed a teacher, MD or a pat. as Mr/Mrs X after we been introduced it would sound weird. I am all for showing respect, but have to find other ways to do it.

[SmilingBluEyes]

There was a long thread about this issue - not having their last name put on their name tags because of privacy issues.

I, on purpose, do not put my last name on my name tag.

I like the idea of teaching kids to call grownup by their last names though - and teachers, etc.

But I'm comfortable being called by my first name by patients.

steph

ITA here.

:)

[Aneroo, LPN]

I feel closer to my patients with them calling me by my first name. Mrs. My Last Name sounds too professional to me- but it's my personal choice. I do call some docs by their first name also. -Andrea

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

It's a professional issue. Nobody would imagine a doc only going by their first name. If you can't own your profession enough to put your name on it, then it's hardly a profession.

As somebody has said on here: only children and pets don't have last names.

I always introduce myself by my whole name, and then allow my patients to call me by my first - but there is a difference between being offered the right to be informal with me and that right being assumed by name tag micromanagement.

~faith

Timothy Delasandro (but you can call me Timothy).

[Valerette]

I also would like to be addressed by my last name, not my first, but I understand that many people feel it's impersonal or unsafe. It's too bad we're not able to offer each other the same courtesy we offer our patients--address each other by our last names until we're invited to do otherwise, or introduce ourselves the way we wish to be addressed. There's no reason we all have to be addressed one way or the other! Just my

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

I feel closer to my patients with them calling me by my first name. Mrs. My Last Name sounds too professional to me- but it's my personal choice. I do call some docs by their first name also. -Andrea

I want it to sound professional. I am not seeking to build a personal relationship with my patients or their families. I am working in the capacity of a health care professional. I believe there should be boundaries. That said, I think it is a shame that, in our society, we should have to be concerned about displaying our full names on our badges for fear that some psycho might hunt us down. There are a lot of people out there that are not (mentally) stable to start with. Add a little stress and you have a potentially dangerous situation.

[fergus51]

I allow others to call me by my first name if I am told to call them by their first names. We had one doctor who preffered we not use his first name because he didn't think it was respectful. He still calls me by my last name because I told him I expected the same level of respect :). I'm in my 20s, so I don't think it's a generational thing. I do believe one of the reasons nurses are sometimes so abused by patients is because of a breakdown in formality in our society. I doubt Nurse Smith was spoken to as rudely by family members 20 years ago as Sally, RN is today. I usually use my first name with family members because they ask me to call them by their first names and those that prefer to be called by their surnames call me by my surname or title as well.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I also prefer using only the first name because you never know who might try and track you down later...

I work at a teaching hospital, and almost everyone is on a first name basis. Nurses and doctors are on a first name basis. Some of the parents who have had their babies on the unit for a few months even call the doctors by their first names. We like it this way - kind of puts everyone on the same team.

[twoanddone]

As a police officer's wife, I would prefer him to be called by his first name. I will want to go by my first name too at work. I will use the name Ms./Mr. to the elderly as patients. I call close elderly friends Ms. Mr. First name.

We have unlisted phone number and court documents blocked from viewing online. Still hasn't stopped three of his arrests this year alone to come by my house. I have security cameras now installed. One started banging on the door at 1 am. (hubby was working) One was sitting in front of my house when I came from my mom's funeral (they found his name in her obituary, sat outside the funeral home and followed my friends to the house who were going to set up family lunch). And one irate woman started screaming obscenities and disrobing one day. All went back to jail and have restraining orders against them.

Did my husband do anything wrong? No, he justs arrested them and they probably lost job/relationship/money and acting out. As nurses, patients can find a grudge for almost anything.

I prefer people NOT to know my last name. I'm sure many people that have been found, stalked would agree. Sorry, I'd rather have personal safety than respect of Ms./Mr. /Nurse/Officer.

Easily found through a database or down at the clerk office PUBLIC INFO!! They have even found out his yearly salary.

[1Tulip]

I can completely sympathize with TwoAndDone. She has to be very conscious about the special risks she faces.

But reading through this thread, I'm wondering why docs can use their last names but we have to be fearful about using ours. My hubby is a doc but everyone knows his last name. Do you think we are at more of a risk in the work setting than we are at... say, a restaurant where we hand over our credit cards without even a second thought???

Are nurses at special risk for being stalked and if so, why?

I recognize that nurses come and go to work often at night and it's happened that sometimes criminals are lying in wait (which is why lighting and other protective measures are employed). But why are we at greater risk AS NURSES for having stalkers use our surnames to victimize us?

[NeuChrisRN]

Working in emergency services I prefer using my first name. During an incident when you walk up to someone you idenitfy yourself by your first name. It has a sort of calming effect on people and builds a more casual relationship. Since first names are used in friendlier relationships it helps them to feel as a friend or neighbor are there to help. Personally, this is how I feel. I would rather have somebody to help me that I think has a personal stake in my well being like a friend rather than just a professional who does not care one way or the other. Don't get me wrong you still need some professionalism.