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."
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I don't call an MD "doctor" unless I'm angry with him. Or unless he's doing something really stupid (as in "Are you sure you really want to give 20 mEq of KCL IV push, DOCTOR?")
The head of CT surgery at my last job brought around a bunch of brand new residents to see our unit. He introduced me to the group. "This is Ruby. She knows everything, and if she calls you "doctor," you're about to do something really stupid. Don't do it." Another surgeon told the resident, "If a nurse calls you "doctor," she's saying "F*** you."
There's one in every bunch, though, that will tell you his first name is "Doctor." (And yes, it's always a male!)
Before contemplating Nursing school i worked as a medical assistant at a busy Doctors clinic. I worked with two great doctors, one was 65 and the other was 35 years. The older physician was always addressed, DR. P*****. While the younger DR. prefered us to call him by his first name. However my co-worker and i were always courteous and called him DR. around patients, of course. The older DR. was very 'old school', but very professional and i learned so much from him, i respected his wishes to address him as DR, afterall i wasn't his family or close friend...
I don't call an MD "doctor" unless I'm angry with him. Or unless he's doing something really stupid (as in "Are you sure you really want to give 20 mEq of KCL IV push, DOCTOR?")
The head of CT surgery at my last job brought around a bunch of brand new residents to see our unit. He introduced me to the group. "This is Ruby. She knows everything, and if she calls you "doctor," you're about to do something really stupid. Don't do it." Another surgeon told the resident, "If a nurse calls you "doctor," she's saying "F*** you."
There's one in every bunch, though, that will tell you his first name is "Doctor." (And yes, it's always a male!)
Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.
I don't call an MD "doctor" unless I'm angry with him. Or unless he's doing something really stupid (as in "Are you sure you really want to give 20 mEq of KCL IV push, DOCTOR?")
The head of CT surgery at my last job brought around a bunch of brand new residents to see our unit. He introduced me to the group. "This is Ruby. She knows everything, and if she calls you "doctor," you're about to do something really stupid. Don't do it." Another surgeon told the resident, "If a nurse calls you "doctor," she's saying "F*** you."
There's one in every bunch, though, that will tell you his first name is "Doctor." (And yes, it's always a male!)
I am just used to calling all doctors by, "Dr. ________". However, if a Dr. asked for me to call him/her by his first name, then I'd feel more comfortable with it. In front of patients I would always use the title.
My daughter has teachers now that were my teachers in school.....I still address them as Mr. ______, even though they always address themselves with their first names in e-mailes, etc.
I can joke around with doctors (and past teachers), and not have to talk all business. I guess it's just a mental thing with me, classification and respect.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
I don't call an MD "doctor" unless I'm angry with him. Or unless he's doing something really stupid (as in "Are you sure you really want to give 20 mEq of KCL IV push, DOCTOR?")
The head of CT surgery at my last job brought around a bunch of brand new residents to see our unit. He introduced me to the group. "This is Ruby. She knows everything, and if she calls you "doctor," you're about to do something really stupid. Don't do it." Another surgeon told the resident, "If a nurse calls you "doctor," she's saying "F*** you."
There's one in every bunch, though, that will tell you his first name is "Doctor." (And yes, it's always a male!)