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

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

I have no problem with it whatsoever. Now if they want to yell at me or call me names................

But if they went all that way and did it because they need to be called Dr Blah de Blah, I'll call them Dr Blah De Blah.

LesMonsterRN, ADN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

It would feel weird at first, but there are a few docs I've worked with I wouldn't mind calling by their first name but not professionally. I still have a hard time addressing my former LPN instructors by their first names. My RN instructors we address by their first names.

I prefer to be called by my first name; I've never quite gotten used to being called "Mrs." although I rather like it when I am. I have had people call me "Ms. Leslie" quite a bit - either staff members or my students when I was teaching.

jackson145 · Mar 25, 2009

I would feel soooo uncomfortable calling a Doc by their first name. I don't care how well or how long I've known them. I still call my teachers Mr/Mrs even 13 years after I graduated. It's just a sign of respect for the position. When I hear nursing students call instructors by their first name, I just cringe. It seems so disrespectful.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

At my new job, all the intensivists request that they be addressed by their first name. It's very odd to me and hard for me to break out of the habit of addressing a doctor by Dr LastName. However, I still refer to them as Dr LastName when I'm speaking of them to a patient or their family members.

I must say that as a working unit, it feels like we're all part of the same team. There definitely isn't that feeling that nursing is below the MDs as far as patient care and input goes. We're very respected and it feels good to be on a first name basis with the doctor's we see most.

However, it does just still feel weird because I'm new here and I'm just not used to it!

Guest343211 · Mar 25, 2009

I think it depends. First, if I am working with them, they aren't my "Dr." And not every one that has a PhD is called Dr. Physicians are physicians as much, if not more so then "Dr.'s" (unless they are MD, PhD's) I think it depends on what each person prefers. I"ve met people that asked me to called them by their first name. When you work together closely with certain people, it's just easier. I've always kind of felt it only fair that if I should call a physician Dr. So and So, well then he or she should call me Nurse So & So. I don't push that with those that are caught up on the title though. It's not really that big of a deal either way to me. Never once lost sleep over it. . . I will say though in continuing my education, I address or greet my professors as Dr.'s, if they are--or as professors. When I teach, students will refer to me as professor. I smile and tell them my name again. They either follow that cue or they don't. So, ultimately I think it depends on the role of the person--is he or she your physician, professor, rabbi, priest, reverend, whatever, or someone else's? And if so, then it depends on what the person in that role prefers. But I apply this with physicians with which I work as well. I let them lead with how they want to be addressed. Seems to make the most sense to me.

crb613, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

If they are older than me its...Mr, Mrs, Miss, & the last name. When I was in school all my teachers were Mr, Mrs, Dr, & last name...I just could not do the first name...even with permission. It is just the way I was raised. On the other hand....I do call some doctors by their first name. We are friends & it just comes naturally....I do try my best not to do so in front of patients.....but it happens. It does not bother me at all to use the title of Dr. so & so.....I feel they have earned it.

southernbeegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

I call them Dr. too and they call me by my first name. some docs i have a great relationship with i call simply "doc". but even in a social situation, i cant call my doc friends by their name, i still call them dr whatever. i was raised that way and cant change. deep south here.

coolpeach · Mar 25, 2009

I call people by there professional title if it is a professional relationship or even a personal one, but in a professional setting where it is required.

I call people by there first name or whatever they have asked to be called in a casual setting or if we are friends.

When I introduce myself I do as first name, last name. I prefer people to call me by my first name (even people who are not my friends), but if they feel more comfortable calling me Mrs. thats fine it may just take me a minute to answer.

Usually the only people who call me Mrs. are my young sons friends when the first time they come over, and then I ask them to call me by my first name.

Bill E. Rubin · Mar 25, 2009

Interesting how many people use the Dr. Soandso here. We tend to have a collegial environment here, and are a teaching floor with interns and residents, most of whom are significantly younger than me, but even among the younger nurses (and older attending physicians) we still call each other by first names. I try to call the doctors by their last names in front of patients, though many of them have last names I don't know how to pronounce, and others I just can't remember their last names as I often have a hard enough time keeping their first names straight given how new teams rotate through here every couple of weeks. In those cases, I will often refer to them as "Dr. Firstname" to the patients.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 25, 2009

If they tell me to call them by their first name or whatever, I will. I really don't care either way.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2009

I call them Dr. ___________, and no, it doesn't bother me. The way I see it, I hold them to a higher level of knowledge and competence, so they deserve to be called by their professional title.

rngolfer53 · Mar 25, 2009

:eek:

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?

I must be old-fashioned too. :wink2:

When I was taking a chemistry pre-req for my BSN, I was by far the oldest person in the class, professor included. :eek:

I always made it a point to refer in public to the prof as Dr. xxxx, as she was a PhD. I know she would not have minded if I used her first name, as other students did, but I believe if you earn the title, you should get the respect that goes along with it. When I bumped into her off-campus, it was first names, as with two normal adults.

I also always address my Pts as Mr. Mrs, etc until asked to do otherwise.

Social mores do change, and that's fine, but I'm simply more comfortable not being informal until asked.