addressing colleagues

Silverdragon102, BSN · Oct 30, 2011

Moved to the General Nursing Discussion forum

FLArn · Oct 30, 2011

Sorry, if you are working with me please take the time to learn my first name. I learned yours. If you are too new to have learned everyone's name then I prefer "Hey, I'm sorry I forgot your name". I'll tell you it as many times as I need to for you to remember it. :chair:

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

i'm just curious. i work in a hospital where nurses address each other 'girl'. i don't really like being called girl especially in the work environment.. even those who are like 10 yrs younger than me call me girl and just today i have been pulled out to another area and one called me 'boy' when i didnt mind her because she was calling me girl across the hall.

Simple fix for that problem: just don't answer. Smart ones will get the hint after a few times :) The slower ones may need more help: you can politely correct them and say, "I'm sorry, were you talking to me? I couldn't tell. My name is Talltale, by the way."

Or you can just be direct and say, "I prefer to be called Talltale."

Either way, be sure you are calling them by their proper names: if you're going around calling them "girl" or some other nickname, you can't complain when it's thrown back at you.

i don't know if it's just me or do others feel the same way too? can anyone tell me how they address each other at work?

I find out what my coworkers prefer to be called and call them by that name. For me, they can call me by my first name.

caliotter3 · Oct 30, 2011

I take the time to learn people's names and use their name, so I see no reason why someone can't take the time to learn my name and call me by my name. I also answer to "hey you", if necessary.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

Just say, "my name's Talltale, what's yours?" If they don't know you don't like to be called "girl" how can they change?

MsJrenae · Oct 31, 2011

i'm just curious. i work in a hospital where nurses address each other 'girl'. i don't really like being called girl especially in the work environment.. even those who are like 10 yrs younger than me call me girl and just today i have been pulled out to another area and one called me 'boy' when i didnt mind her because she was calling me girl across the hall. i don't know if it's just me or do others feel the same way too? can anyone tell me how they address each other at work?

:eek: is this a serious question??? You really couldnt have figured this out on your own?? wow.. " Can you please stop calling me girl, my name is ____________." :hlk: geeesh............

beckster_01, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

Hey you!

haha just kidding, that actually would annoy me too. Ditto what everyone else said.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

Just correct them when they call you "girl", and say, "Um...I really don't appreciate you calling me 'girl' when you address me. It's GORGEOUS girl. BTW, my real name is XYZ, but you can still address me as Gorgeous Girl."

They won't forget your name from that point on.

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

I may be guilty of this myself. When I'm flummoxed by something, I tend to say, "girl, did you SEE the BM that came out of that poor little thing, OMG, no wonder she felt bad" or, "girl, how are we gonna get 4 units of PRBCs down a 24 gauge that's sitting up there on the poor little thing's knuckle, she's go no veins, why, WHY didn't they put in a central line..."

And "girl" beats what I'd like to call folks sometimes, that's for sure....like the folks who think you can give 4 units of PRBCs down a 24, and you end up getting a surgical consult for a triple lumen at 8pm, as opposed to during the day when everyone' awake and a lot less grumpy about it....

talltale · Oct 31, 2011

thanks for the insight but yes i was serious when i did this post.

healthstar, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

I hate it when nurses say B...... Please, lucky B......, etc in the work environment. I made it clear to one who said it( she was joking) but I find it unprofessional and offensive. I get so annoyed whe nurses call their patients honey, sweety, sweetheart, sugar, pumpkin, cupcakes ....every bakery word yo can think of. Very unprofessional and nasty at the same time. So weired to hear a 23-27 year old nurse saying to a 60-70 year old guy, honey, sweety etc. Ewww just ewww.you have to set limits for coworkers and they will know not to cross the boundaries.