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?

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

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...

There was a huge long thread on this very subject that was quite interesting not long ago. Seems to be regional although I went to nursing school in Texas and was told never to call by terms of endearment.

[Anonymous666]

I feel weird calling patients by their first names and do so only when they request that I do or I am trying to revive them form an unconscious/semi-conscious state.

[AnonymousLPN]

I grew up in the Southern US. Yes/no sir and yes/no ma'am. And you never address an elder by their first name. Now that I live in Canada, people almost seemed offended if I say sir/ma'am. I try to explain that it was a habit bred in to me over many years. and it is meant to be a show of respect.

I'm curious for French or Spanish speaking nurses would you address your patients in the familiar Tu or would you always use the formal Vous?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I grew up in the Southern US. Yes/no sir and yes/no ma'am. And you never address an elder by their first name. Now that I live in Canada, people almost seemed offended if I say sir/ma'am. I try to explain that it was a habit bred in to me over many years. and it is meant to be a show of respect.

I'm curious for French or Spanish speaking nurses would you address your patients in the familiar Tu or would you always use the formal Vous?

I do get offended if someone calls me Ma'am. I'm not a Grandma. I went to the doctor today, she addressed me by my first name. Then I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription and the girl called me "Ms. Last Name" about 57x. It was annoying.

[loriangel14, RN]

I always use first names unless the patient indicates otherwise. I quite often have patients that go by nicknames as well.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

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...

100% agree. You walk in and call me "sweeties", I order you out and get a new nurse. I have a name. Use it. Calling me sweetie tells me that you can't see me as an individual. And how do I know the meds you hand me aren't for the "sweetie" in the next room?

[Nurse-84]

yea you order the NURSE out and we get you the AMA paper and do the happy dance when you leave bc you sound like a JOY!.. sweetie in the next room needs the love and caring nursing we want to provide.

[lub dub]

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!

Just because they didn't say it doesn't mean they didn't think it...

[misstrinad]

In the Midwest in ltc we call pts by first name unless they indicate a preference otherwise on admission. I see the same in the hospitals here.

I still use yes ma'am no sir as well out of respect. I once heard a Ltd resident complain that one cna kept calling all the men sir but no one ever called her ma'am, made me realize she was feeling a lack of respect so I started making it a point to use ma'am a lot with that pt specifically and reported the preference to the manager. When I asked if she wanted to be addressed Mrs so and so she said no.

The only time I ever use 'hunny, sweetie, or grandma' is with specific dementia patients in situations where pet names will comfort the pt or assist in de escalating a situation. Honestly it should all be care planned but the only time I am positive it was was a pt that preferred to be called grandma by everyone.

Otherwise I feel pet names are disrespectful and that was definitely pounded into my head in nrsg school. I would definitely feel disrespected if I was called sweetie by a medical professional and so would my grandmother.

[elkpark]

I'm in psych. I use "Mr." or "Ms." LastName and have throughout my career (as a staff nurse and then as a psych CNS), unless the client is actually a child/minor. I'm one of those people who gets offended when people automatically presume it's okay to call me by my first name, and feel even more strongly about being called "honey" or "sweetie." The client and I (or the provider and I, if I am the client) are not friends; this is a professional relationship. I take professional boundaries v. seriously.

[lub dub]

Many years ago, I was visiting my grandfather in a nursing home. One of the CNAs, who was about 20 years old or so, called him by his first name. Back in the day, my grandfather was an important & respected businessman. Hearing a twenty-something CNA, who hardly knew him, call him by his first name struck me a disrespectful. I was raised to respect my elders. Apparently, that has fallen out of favor.

[openyourmind]

First name basis is on a personal level to me. I'd address as Mr. or Mrs./Ms. I guess it really is a regional thing...