Are you a "Sister?"

[MikeyBSN]

In many areas of nursing, I hear nurses call each other "sister". As a man in nursing, they call me and other male nurses "brother." I work in the U.S. but I know it's actually more common in other countries. From what I have read, the "sister" designation comes from Catholic nuns who ran hospital wards and were referred to as "the Sister." Also, I read that in some countries in Europe nurses are not called "nurses" but "sisters."

Regardless of the origins, what do you think of this practice? Is it used where you work? Should it be kept? I think it helps keep nursing a unique and tightly-knit field by conveying the idea that fellow nurses are sisters, and brothers.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I've never heard this (I've worked in the south, Southwest, and Midwest), never been called this, and never want to be called this.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I hope you did not take offence at my comments XB9S, it was not meant to be nasty - although I can see it could be easily construed that way.

I feel that the problem is "Daily Mail" thinking by the public. We need more Hattie Jacques patrolling the corridors. The hospitals were better when Matron ran things - they weren't.

In my opinion, for what that is worth, it takes away from nursing professionalism and makes people think we are still the handmaidens to the doctors.

Ha ha, no offence taken at all, in fact I had a little chuckle a little spirited debate is always healthy.

I'm resigned to the title now, and it's grown on me as I've had so much positivity from both patients and staff. I work with the elderly, they understand Matron, other titles confuse them. I've been nursing a long time and remember my encounters with Matrons., there is something to be said about that clear strong nurse leader, respected (and a little feared) I have a small nurse led community hospital so it fits.

Would I feel the same in my old job caring for elective and emergency surgery, a younger caseload who don't remember Hattie and her ilk, probably not.

Full discloure, my husband often calls me Hattie ������������������.

[Kohai]

I never heard anyone at my hospital say that, but I think it's pretty harmless. Usually, when I do hear this, be it in a church or out in the street from someone you don't even know, it's meant to recognize a unity or that we're one big family in a way. So in a hospital, your co-workers calling you brother probably represents you being a part of the community and the community being one big family. In my opinion, having grown up in an environment where everyone calls each other family.

[Ackeem, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Yes as a Jamaican nurse whose practicing in the states now, in my country the unit manager is called "sister" I personally never called them that though it came out too corney.

And the matron controls all the nurses

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

And the matron controls all the nurses

:) There are times I wish that were true

[/username, BSN, RN]

No. I work in a hospital, not a convent.

[Tippyrn]

To me it is more a term of endearment, I call many of my close friends brother and sister so I think it would be cool to do this at work also.

[SmilingBluEyes]

No I am not a "sister". I am not a doctor's or manager's "girl", either. I have parents. I have sisters. I have friends (very few) outside my work life. Few and far between did I cross that line with to become friends at work....

. I have been guilty of calling my coworkers my "tribe" and I know that is less than politically correct, but it is honestly how I feel. I positioned myself in a great team. I guess the better word is really "teammate". And I don't like the term (sister) because we have professional men in nursing. This almost seems to leave them out of the equation. Not ok with me......

At the end of it all, I am a professional. I don't mean to come off heavy, it's just how I feel.

[SmilingBluEyes]

As a manager, I don't like the term "matron". Don't know why exactly except I am not matronly and not anyone's mom there. I am old, but that is another thread rofl.

[Golden_RN, MSN]

Nurse in German is Krankenschwester, which literally translates to "sick sister". Judging from the other comments, calling other nurses "sister" may have European roots. In what part of the U.S. are you hearing nurses call one another "sister"?

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Only time I have ever heard it was one of our staff doctors called everyone brother or sister and it was so damn annoying.

[tiddles]

Having worked in NZ and Australia, sister was used for RNs in Australia, but I never heard the term in NZ. I quite liked it, and I think the patients did to. I also remember going around with my med cart and the patients saying "here comes the lolly trolley" haha.

I found patients in those countries (and the UK) to be much more appreciative and less demanding than americans. Also, it was almost mandatory for patients to leave the nurses a box of chocolates when they were discharged!

Mind you, that was a while ago - things could be different now.