Calling a Patient 'Sugar': Abuse?

seizetheday · May 25, 2011

I know that each agency is going to have its own policy, but is calling a patient 'sugar' or 'sweetie' considered abuse? Has anyone had the experience of being told not to call patients these titles when communicating with them out of fear of legal reprimand?

Demeaning, condescending, patronizing...yes

Abuse and legal reprimand...no.

Respect your clients / patients. Use their names.

teeniebert, LPN · May 25, 2011

Demeaning, condescending, patronizing...yes
Abuse and legal reprimand...no.
Respect your clients / patients. Use their names.

This is what I've always heard in orientation/training, but on the floor in LTC there are a lot of folks using Sugar, Honey, Sweetie, etc. instead of names. At my current workplace there are quite a few people being addressed as Papa Lastname and Mama Soandso, and they seem to prefer that to Mr./Mrs. or Sir/Ma'am.

nursinger · May 25, 2011

after 36 years of nursing, I've yet to hear any of my veterans complain that I called them sweetie and I ain't gonna change now.

northmississippi · May 25, 2011

In cna school we were told not to call anyone names such as that.

LouisVRN, RN · May 25, 2011

I think it can be patronizing and paternalistic but if I have a confused pt that is not cooperating with me sometimes a reassuring voice and some "i understand this hurts sweetheart but we have to do ____ because ____". can get you somewhere.

nursetiffany. · May 25, 2011

i work in ltc...and it all depends on the resident....

kakamegamama · May 25, 2011

As one who has been called "sweetie", please don't. Of course, if your client/patient insists that's fine. It IS condescending, demeaning, and patronizing, or at least it sounds/feels that way. May not be meant that way. I was nice & didn't say anything, but what I wanted to say was "My name isn't Sweetie. I am not old(it seems "Sweetie" is reserved for the elderly for some reason). So, please call me "Susie" or "Mrs. Smith" but NOT Sweetie. Thank you very much." Ah, yes....

CompleteUnknown · May 25, 2011

While it certainly can be inappropriate, demeaning and condescending to call patients 'sweetie' or 'honey' or whatever, I don't think it always is.

So much depends on the setting, what is going on at the time, and the relationship you have with the patient/resident.

Some patients/residents might like it from one nurse but hate it from another, a lot is in the tone and general manner of the person saying it.

Unfortunately too many people have been guilty of doing this when it's clearly not appropriate or because it's easier than remembering names or just because they're thoughtless in general that now we're told it should never happen.

I would never call a resident 'sweetie' all the time but sometimes, in some situations, with some people, it's exactly the right thing to say.

Seems like there's less and less common sense all the time.

RNperdiem, RN · May 25, 2011

"Abuse" has lost its meaning from overuse and inappropriate use.

Can't anyone just be "offended" anymore?

caregiver1977 · May 25, 2011

I personally wouldn't like it, but I guess if you know your patient, like if you work in LTC, then it might be okay. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean someone else won't.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · May 26, 2011

OK, let's back up on that Yellow Brick Road for just a minute, Dorothy.

ABUSE: "Mr. X, I thought I told you NOT to move until I came back! What were you thinking trying to go to the bathroom by yourself? Are you stupid? Do I need to put you in restraints? Don't push me, mister!"

OFFENSIVE COMMENT: "Mr. X, I know you aren't capable of getting up to the bathroom by yourself since you aren't exactly 'with it', so how about you just wait until I can get you some help, hmmm?"

Calling a resident/patient 'honey' or 'sugar' does not amount to abuse, for the love of all that is green in the world. Let's not start that rumor, shall we?

We all know that we should address patients by their last name. That is professional, and as professionals, we should adhere to that. However, we all have the capacity to recognize what each pt is comfortable with. This is part of knowing your pt. If Mrs. X in room 309 HATES being called 'sugar', you bet your bottom dollar that I am not going to address her this way. However, if Mrs. Y in room 307 feels that being addressed as 'honey' makes her feel more cared for and more secure, OF COURSE I am going to address her this way. Part of being a nurse is knowing your patient. We don't need a law book to teach us this element of nursing.

If someone is crying ABUSE over petty semantics, then I think it may be time for me to get out of nursing.