Does it bother you to address MDs by their title of Doctor?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Wherever I've worked, we always call doctors 'Dr So and So'. I've never been anywhere where they are called by their first name. They call nurses by first name.

I'm old-fashioned in this way. I feel that MDs deserve this respect. I'm in no way groveling and generally enjoy all the doctors I work with, especially the more seasoned, experienced ones. Some of the younger ones have yet to develop into interesting people, and tend to lack great social skills.

I also address my children's school teachers by Mrs or Mr and their surname, even if they try to get on first name basis. I come from a different generation where people were more formal. When I was a girl one did not address any adults but your parents' close friends by their first names.

Is this changing in some places and how do you feel about this subject?

[Prettyladie]

I feel if you have a title to your name such as dr (phd, md, od, dds, dns etc) you deserve to be called doctor. i on the other hand do call my friends mama by their first names. i know they are my elder, but if they preferred to be called by thier first name so be it. i have another friend who i call Ms. Roxanne. thats just how ive always called her, and my other friends mom i just call her theresa. its all in how they want to be addressed honestly.

[AirforceRN, RN]

I was raised as a Mr and Mrs so and so kid...probably had something to do with Dad being in the military.

I address our docs as Dr so and so unless told otherwise by them and even then, always use their title when speaking about them to patients. I agree with the respect thing. Interestingly...in our hospital, all the nurses' name badges have first name only...all the docs have Dr. and last name.

[KatyAtlanta]

Isn't it a strange song and dance?

I'm older, and work with several doctors that I knew socially before I became a nurse. I call them by their first names when speaking directly to them, but in referring to them I say, "Dr. Last Name". I do this especially in front of a patient. They extend the same courtesy to me; I'm Katy directly, but Mrs. Last Name to others.

By the way, I introduce myself to patients as Katy Last Name. If they wish to call me Mrs. Last Name, that's fine. But I would never, never, never introduce myself that way. Nor would I answer the phone as Mrs. Last Name. I am always Katy Last Name on the phone.

[lpnflorida]

I have always called them Dr. so and so, even sweet darlin when he would come to my unit to see a patient. Now , if I was introducing him to a friend or a co-worker who happened to be a friend I would introduce him by his first name. He is the one and only doctor I use first names with. Even his doctor friends I just can't bring myself to address them by their first names. They understand. They know it was simply drummed into me. And yes I use Mrs, Miss or Mr. Call me Old fashioned I guess.

[Prettyladie]

I was raised as a Mr and Mrs so and so kid...probably had something to do with Dad being in the military.

I address our docs as Dr so and so unless told otherwise by them and even then, always use their title when speaking about them to patients. I agree with the respect thing. Interestingly...in our hospital, all the nurses' name badges have first name only...all the docs have Dr. and last name.

my dad was in the military too, but we didnt have to be so formal.

[Atheos]

At our facility one of the doctors introduce herself as Doctor X.

I just called her X and she gives me weird looks but earning a title doesn't earn you respect. Shrug.

I was raised in the military to, everything was so formal. After being in the military you gotta EARN my respect. Especially a civvie. Doctor or not.

[truern]

I always call our docs by Dr So-and-so. It's a simple matter of respect, I think.

I introduce myself to patients as, "Good morning, I'm First Name and I'm your nurse for today." If we're talking about their doctor I call him/her Dr So-and-so.

Works for me. :)

[Batman24]

I call all the doctors by their first name. We all do and it's never been an issue. Of course I refer to them as Doctor in front of the patients. If they made an issue of it I'd become Nurse Insert Last Name where they are concerned. lol It just wouldn't happen where I work. We are a team and respect one another as professionals.

[caliotter3]

While I agree that doctors should be addressed by their title, I also believe that nurses and nursing assistants and housekeeping personnel should be called by their title too. Mr., Ms., or Mrs., as appropriate will do, as will Nurse so and so. Although Nurse so and so sounds kind of awkward. I once had a patient that insisted on Nurse so and so. Calling someone by their first name is belittling that person as I see it. I have always addressed older patients using their last names and ask them if they prefer that I do otherwise. I was taught this is the respectful thing to do.

[Lorie P.]

i always call our docs by dr so-and-so. it's a simple matter of respect, i think.

i introduce myself to patients as, "good morning, i'm first name and i'm your nurse for today." if we're talking about their doctor i call him/her dr so-and-so.

works for me. :)

this worked and still works for me. being from the south, i still call my elders mr or ms, just the way i was taught years ago. as my grandma said" you can get more done with honey than vinegar!":bow:

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

I've never really had this issue until I came to the US. Almost every place I've worked previously, we considered ourselves a team and called each other by first names. Of course we use titles in front of patients. Here, it depends. My boss has worked with our cardiac surgeon for 22 years and still calls him Dr .... so I don't feel I can call him by his first name! Most of our other surgeons/docs etc I call by their first name. They're a nice bunch. If it's someone I don't know, I call them Dr ...