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

[FireStarterRN]

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?

[psalm, RN]

In the military, enlisted were called by rank and last name, and sometimes just by last name. Doctors were called "doctor" and nurses who were officers were called by rank and last name, ie, Captain Hodge.

Of course over time we may go to a first name basis, esp. on night shift.

I am a registered nurse. Where I work, I prefer to be called by my first name; not by Nurse Jones. I don't want some of my patients to know my surname. If they really want to know it, they will find it out, but I prefer some semblence of safety.

[Guest343211]

I get the position that people have earned a doctorate or post-bac application of doc. In the same token, I also get that as nurses we have earned a title of respect. After all, I don't recall someone just handing me my college education or professional nurse license and title without actually earning it. Not only that, but shoot, the second I graduated and started working, that's when I really started to build on it and earn it. So why are we not being addressed as Nurse So and So, etc??????? Just think about it for a while. We've earned this title. Why then do we not make issue of using it, professionally speaking?????

I do think that if the person is not your doctor, just like he may not be, say, your rabbi, you are not necessarily obligated to address him or her as such; however, out of respect for the physician-patient relationship, it is good to address them by title in the presence of patients, etc.

If they say to me, as the other person stated--and who was also the same person that stated he/she doesn't really care--lol--it's up to the person to share with me how they would like to be addressed.

Etiquette would say that if the person introduces himself as Dr. Lang, for example, but then tells you that you may call him Joe, well there you have your answer. Some folks need a little more time to get to know you. After you've worked with them for a while, they may just come up to you one day and say, "You know, call me Joe." It makes them feel uncomfortable to as working together to always being addressed as Dr. Whatever. And also, it would make them uncomfortable to keep addressing you or me as Nurse Butler or Nurse So and So, etc. It just is a natural evolution when working regularly with others many times. Some people never feel like they should cross the line of first name being offered; but then, I should consider not crossing the line of Dr. Him or Her referring to me by my first name. Quid pro quo, so to speak. So Dr. Trip can continue to call me Nurse Quid Pro Quo. LOL

But I really think as nurses we should also introduce ourselves professionally. I am really thinking there is something to this whole thing of nurses being addressed as "Nurse So and So," if for nothing else, on point of principle. I think somewhere along the line, really, nurses became embarassed to be referred to as Nurse So & So--as if being Nurse So & So in beneath them or is unnecessary. But my point is this. If it is appropriate to refer to a physician or a person with a doctoral degree as Dr So and So, it is EQUALLY appropriate for others, physicians included, to refer to us as Nurse So and So or Nurse Whatever. It's one of those things where it seems one group of folks professionally want things both ways, rather than distributing respectful address equally. We as nurses have earned our titles as well.

Again, just think about it for a few moments. Sadly I don't think a good number of nurses see themselves as professionals--nurse professionals. And that is a big part of the problem. Maybe we not only need to dress for success, but perhaps we need to reflect on how well we are referenced for success. After all, an earned title is much like an outfit you step into. Psychologically we become what we wear, so to speak. Hmmm????

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

not really dr. title realated (im not a nurse yet so the docs i have interaction with are my own so def dr. so and so). People older then me are always Mr. Mrs. Ms. So and Son. If I do not know who you are you are sir or mam. I have shocked people with this. Some older people do not like it and tell me to call them by thier first name. If thats what they want thats what they get.

But the professors at school who say we can call them by their first name they are still prof so and so. There was one person I had as a prof. i was friends with her before she taught me so she was Erin. I had her for class (one of those concenced 2.5 week classes) and she became prof so and so (despite her saying we could call her erin) and about a month after the class ended she was erin to me again. I just cant call profs by their first name

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

where I very well may end up working a good few of the Dr.'s WILL BE Dr. to me.

The reason: It is my pediatritions office! I could NOT call my ped by her first name. Even if I get to know here personally, and as cooworkers, I knew her for so many years as Dr. so and so and that is what she is in my brain as. Also if I was sick I saw many of the other Dr.s so it would just not sound right to call them by their first names either.

Tehre are some new docs there since I left, however, as I will be calling these other Dr.'s Dr. I feel it is only right to do it for all of them. Though if the new ones had any decinsy they would understand once they knew the situation :)

[okchug]

Interesting.....during clinicals I observed such "title" issues. Nurses called the docs by their first name at the desk..even looked at bridal mags with a female resident that they all called by her first name. BUT when in a patient's room, the nurse nearly slipped and used this doc's name & the dr glared at her. The nurse quickly said "dr" so & so. It was weird because they had just been out giggling over wedding stuff, but in front of the patient protocol kicked in.