Addressing doctors by their first names

[trauma_junkie1]

I've got a question for you all:

I work in a busy ED and we recently recieved a memo from our management stating that we had a new "Code of Conduct." Among other things (soem of which make good sense and some of which are rediculous) one of the new "standards" is that we (nursing staff) are to always address physicians by "Dr. Smith" instead of "John" (example...).

Now, when talking to patients, I refer to doctors this way, but when talking to the doctors, I use first names. We're all friends, it's a tight knit group. Even the doctors have said, "that's dumb, don't call me that." Our feeling is that this is an example of managment that is out of touch. (Most of our docs don't have any clue who the managers are and these are people who have GREAT relationships with the nurses!)

I can't think of any other profession that would be asked to do that. Doctors don't call each other "Dr" if they're close friends. I'm not talking about docs that we don't know, faculty consultants. I'm talking about our own ER residents! We will actually be written up if management hears us call them by their first name, citing that it's "unprofessional."

Am I nuts here?

[Sadie04]

No you're not nuts, you are absolutely right. I think they should leave it up to the doc - if he/she wants to be called by their first name than so be it! Don't managers have more important things to worry about?!?!?

[wam79]

"We will actually be written up if management hears us call them by their first name, citing that it's "unprofessional.""

If it works don't fix it

Mollison's Bureaucracy Hypothesis: If an idea can survive a bureaucratic review and be implemented it wasn't worth doing.

[galenight, BSN, RN]

I agree, don't they have bigger fish to fry? And if professionalism is their argument then whey don't docs call the nurses Ms, Miss, Mrs, Mr So and so? If you ask me, it's a two way street. I personally don't want to be called Nurse Melissa or Ms. Last Name (especially the latter due to wierdos and stalkers). And I think most docs in ER feel the same way. At bedside we call the doc Dr. So and so or sometimes just doc or doctor. But in the break room, or out of patients ear shot it first name... (except for the couple of docs whose first name we can't pronounce...LOL)

[mscsrjhm]

It is within the employers right to authorize employees to address the Doc professionally.

I don't see a problem with calling a co-worker by their first name, but, employers have that right.

They are paying us, after all.

[adidas99]

.....

[kristylee]

So according to them it's 'professional' to call the docs, Dr. so and so, but nurses don't derserve the same 'professionalism' as doctors? I personally think that it's degrating to not include that with nurses if this is the policy there are putting into effect, not that I want to be called Nurse Kristy, but I think you get my point. And as one of the previous comments, I can understand introducing and referring to the doc as Dr. so and so to the pt, but when talking to each other, give me a break. Like nurses don't have enough on their plate to have to deal with petty politics too.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'd feel weird calling a Dr. by his first name.

[Jetman]

Another shining example of administration run amok. I work in an ER that can become quite busy with many patients LWBS. To reduce the number of LWBS or AMA, Admin suggested we keep 4 rooms open (this is an 11 bed er) at all times and when a patient has waited a certain amount of time (1-2 hours was suggested), we bring them back no matter how busy we are. This obviously would not work since it is not uncommon to have 10 full rooms with 10 more in the waiting room. Obviously, we did not implement that policy into our practice in the ER.

[zenman]

We will actually be written up if management hears us call them by their first name, citing that it's "unprofessional."

Am I nuts here?

Make sure that management does not hear you then. Once a supervisor told me that she did not want to catch any of us reading on the night shift. I asked her if she would always call first before coming on the unit and she said, "Ok!"

[maggiecheung]

I always address the doc by Dr. last name. I work night shift and we have no connections to docs in private activities during the days and feel that they deserve respect in the working enviornment. BUT maybe some docs REALLY like to be called by first name.

[PJMommy]

How silly! I agree...I'm a professional also so perhaps all the docs should address me professionally - i.e. Mrs. Smith? Or maybe I need a title? Wizardress PJ?

I wonder....if I should get a Ph.D. in something like horticulture - would they have to address me as Doctor?