Addressing patients by their first name...

[tytkhat]

...I was being shown the run down in the ER, and when the nurse with me came across our patient, a lovely 88 yo, she addressed her by her first name. I was mortified! I grew up addressing my elders as 'Sir', 'Ma'am', Mr. Soinso, etc. I would be sporting one heck of a nugget from whatever blunt object my grandmother wielded if I addressed otherwise. Apparently, this is how the patients are addressed...I asked...first name only. I am a tad uncomfortable with this (no, more than a tad). Also, the employee IDs show our first name only. It is weird for me. Has anyone else experienced this at their facility? How do you feel about addressing the patient by the first name only?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I have never addressed a patient by anything other than their first name- unless it's a patient who goes by their middle name. I don't think I've ever- in my life- addressed ANYONE as Mr/Mrs Anything other than teachers, though. I grew up calling all my friends' parents by their first names, as well as my parents' friends and my grandfather's friends. In college, I called all my professors by first name as well. My patients- children- refer to me by first name. I've never EVER had one refer to me by anything else. Their parents are essentially my peers and, in many cases, younger than me. No way am I going in calling them "Mr or Ms. (rarely are my patients' parents married, inner city ya know) So and So."

[kanzi monkey]

My default is "Mr." or "Ms."

I try to find out their preference but there is often a language barrier (more often than not), or the patient has some level of cognitive impairment, and the question "what do you like to be called" is just going nowhere. In most of these scenarios, I quickly adopt the first name. Sometimes a sternal rub does nothing, while "Bobby" elicits a smile (then an accusatory frown as they pat their sore chest).

While many women may prefer Mrs. to Ms., it is very likely that I will never have that conversation with a patient (if I get an answer to preference, patients mostly choose their first names). Ms. works out fine as a default, and for the few times I've accidentally gone with "Mrs.", I've been called out by the patient more than you might expect.

Personally, I'd rather be called "Ms." as a default--I might be married but I'm not a missus. I'm a Kanzi. Which is a monkey.

[VampyrSlayer, CNA]

The elderly home I worked at (ind, asst, full care and dementia) was strict first names only. They said it was more of a family there (although this was like a small city and only wealthy people lived there). I never had an issue, i still said sir or ma'am. I grew up in nyc and my teachers and friends parents were always addressed by their first name. It wasn't til I moved to small town New England that I had to switch to mr and ms/mrs

[Nurse-84]

I rarely ever call a patient "MRS SMITH" Or use MR,. this isn't 1800s lol... I was taught to call all my professors by their first names and though I have much respect for my elderly patients, I think its nice to treat people on the same level as myself. I find going into a patients room in morning and saying "good morning lois, I have your pills" just sounds more personal.

[VampyrSlayer, CNA]

It was full of drs living there too and we never called anyone dr anything

[Nurse-84]

I rarely ever call a patient "MRS SMITH" Or use MR,. this isn't 1800s lol... I was taught to call all my professors by their first names and though I have much respect for my elderly patients, I think its nice to treat people on the same level as myself. I find going into a patients room in morning and saying "good morning lois, I have your pills" just sounds more personal.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I have never been asked by patients to address them formally.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

I greet them and ask how they prefer to be addressed. I'm not a spring chicken, but if someone ever called me "Mrs. RN303" I'd be looking around the room for my mother. :)

[Wheels28]

I never had a nurse or any healthcare worker call me "Mr. Wheels", they always called me by my first name, if they did it would be so weird to me. I'm only 28, so if they did I would think my dad was in the room. As a patient I like to have an easy going, friendly vibe for my nurses asking them to call me Mr. is in my opinion to formal do so. :)

[lub dub]

I Also love saying " good morning sweetie, sweetheart, honey" LOL.. just me :)

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on this one, Nurse-84. I have always told my students to never call a patient "honey" or "sweetheart". I believe that is disrespectful. Just me...

[maryray]

This reminds me why I have to suffer long, cold winters. I could never adjust to using the word ma'am. Being called this makes me cringe. The hospital where I work is all first name basis with patients and nurses. I've never heard of this being an issue. Now calling someone sweetie to me is disrespectful as this is not the person's name and they aren't your child.

[Nurse-84]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on this one, Nurse-84. I have always told my students to never call a patient "honey" or "sweetheart". I believe that is disrespectful. Just me...

Great lub dub.. you can be the nurse you want to be and I'll be the nurse I want to be. I love saying sweetie, in fact I said it all day to my patients and made everyone smile. Keep saying Mr and Mrs.. I'm sure they love that too...I can't remember the last time my patient said ' You are being so disrespectful! how dare you insult me and call me sweetheart!' LOL thats right because it has NEVER Happened!