Nicknames unprofessional?

Nurses Professionalism

Published

  1. Are nicknames (or shortened names) professional?

    • 45
      Yes
    • 73
      No
    • 33
      Depends - See comment

151 members have participated

Hello all, I figured I would make this a poll so I can see the results rather than scroll through many comments (however comments are appreciated also!)

So my name is Richard, I am usually never called Richard, but usually Richie, or Rich.

Personally I prefer Richie, because IMO that is what is fitting of my personality. However I have had two people tell me it was ''unprofessional'' to be referred to as Richie instead of Richard.

One woman who told me was a worker at a label making shop. I am also 21 so maybe there is some age bias. She told me that it was a ''baby name''. If I was mid 40's I wonder if she'd say that.

So anyways, without further adieu, is my nickname(s) Richie/ Rich unprofessional?

0 Votes
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Go with what you would rather be called. You have to answer to it. My name is always shortened even if I tell people otherwise. I thing it is fine to use a nickname.

0 Votes
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I ment think.

0 Votes

Using Richard on your résumé is appropriate, but i see no reason why you shouldn't use Ritchie in everyday work life.

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Full name "Richard" on resume, applications, and more formal correspondence (including more formal emails). "Rich" would be fine otherwise. "Richie" should probably be reserved for your personal life.

0 Votes

I accidentally marked wrong on the pole. The thought of shortened names being unprofessional is ridiculous. On resumes and correspondence, I type "Kimberly." I prefer being called Kim. But even if I liked "Kimmy", there should be nothing wrong with that. I would not put Kimmy on my nametag however. Some people do call me Kimmy though, and I find the thought of that as unprofessional absurd.

0 Votes

I work occasionally with a "Lennie", and that is what his name tag says. He has been Lennie his whole life and why should he have to use "Len" or "Leonard" if he is and always has been Lennie. What if his parents had named him just Lennie?

We have a physician who goes by "Rocky", rather than his given name, and no one bats an eye at that.

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I marked my vote incorrectly as well. The last line of the post asks "is my nickname Richie unprofessional?" So I answered "no" because I don't think it is. Then, after I submitted my vote, I realized the acutal poll question was "Are nicknames professional?" Even though I said no, I believe the are professional.

Our medical director is 'Richard.' He always goes by 'Rick' at work. He puts 'Richard Jones' (changed last name) on official documents for the departments, but everyone calls him Rick, even at formal meetings. I, and just about everyone at my place of work, who has 'standard' nickname(s) goes by said nickname. Examples, Rob for Robert, Chris for Christopher, Liz or Beth for Elizabeth, you get the idea. Nobody at work goes by weird nicknames like T-bone or C-bass. I'm sure all those people go with their full formal names on resumes, official letters, etc., but what is wrong with going with a standard nickname you prefer to be called while you are at work? I think it is pretty unprofessional for people to tell you what name you should or should not use...especially those people who have no stake in your success (like a label maker).

0 Votes
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

It depends on the nickname. Shortening Richard to Ritchie is fine. I have a coworker who is called "no knickers" after an incident at the Christmas party one year, I wouldn't call her that on the floor though.lol

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
It depends on the nickname. Shortening Richard to Ritchie is fine. I have a coworker who is called "no knickers" after an incident at the Christmas party one year, I wouldn't call her that on the floor though.lol

What about a surgeon nicknamed Shaky? :coollook:

0 Votes
I marked my vote incorrectly as well. The last line of the post asks "is my nickname Richie unprofessional?" So I answered "no" because I don't think it is. Then, after I submitted my vote, I realized the acutal poll question was "Are nicknames professional?" Even though I said no, I believe the are professional.

Same here. Nicknames and Richie are fine.

Unclear polls, however....

0 Votes

I mistakenly marked the wrong choice as I read the poll question wrongly. I don't think shortened names are unprofessional at all.

0 Votes
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