Calling a doctor question.

[iwashere]

Ok quick question. I know there will probably be varying answers depending on area/age/etc. but anyway. Ok so when I call a doctor at home and his wife answers is saying "Hello may I please speak with Dr. ******" an appropriate greeting? The reason I ask is because I was told by an older nurse that this is innapropriate and I need to say Hello this is soandso calling from soandso may I please speak to dr ********. I feel this is excessive seeing as how I am going to identify myself and where I am callng from as soon as the doctor gets on the phone. She thinks it is necessary so that the wife dosent "get mad or think anthing." (This is referring to a Dr that we call very frequently). So is my greeting completely out of line or is she just old fashioned?

[Hygiene Queen]

I would do the complete introduction.

My thinking is that it informs that wife that this is a professional call that requires the doctor's attention.

The doctor also gets many calls from many places and so I think it is only courteous that I give that information.

No matter where I have worked, phone courtesy has always dictated a proper introduction.

I never thought of the "other woman" aspect!

[caliotter3]

I just think it would be easier to give the full intro for the reasons HQ stated.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Full introduction. "Hi this is nurse me from abc facility, may I please speak with Dr. X" is more professional and lets the person answering know that the call is a necessary business call not some random phone call.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I always do the introduction, not because I'm worried about the spouse thinking anything inappropriate, but because it just seems professional. I usually say something like "Hello, this is Stargazer, RN from Whereveriam, may I please speak with Dr. Whoeveritis?"

[One2gofst]

I give the full introduction whenever I call anyone who is not a personal friend of mine. It is the right way to handle things, IMO. Practically it also makes your call much more likely to be taken rather than being informed the party you are looking for is unavailable and to leave a message (screening unknown callers)

[iwashere]

the screening of calls does not appear to be an issue in this case

[Altra, BSN, RN]

It is professional, not old fashioned, to identify yourself when you are calling someone.

[iwashere]

I understand that completely, and I just thought identification to the person you are actually calling was enough.

[Jenni811, RN]

My dad is a cardiologist. I can tell you growing up with him, and getting calls at our house...if a woman called and asked to speak to "Dr. ____" my mom, nor myself ever thought anything of it. We as a family were so used to the hospital calling our house that we never got suspicious because a woman called. Plus....we could hear his end of the conversation (not that we are snooping, but we are in the same house).if we really thought my dad was "cheating" his conversation would not be like "Give 5mg of IV metoprolol...." or "Did you get an EKG?"

So, when a child answers or a wife answers...trust me when i say they are USED TO IT. We had caller ID, i know its the hospital calling...they don't need to waste 5 mintues of my life identifying themselves. i know its you, i know its the hospital, i know who your looking for...just get to the point :)

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

I would like to know who/why someone is waking my happy ass up in the middle of the night so an introduction would be greatly appreciated.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

It irritates me when someone I don't know calls me and they don't identify themselves. I think it is just general good etiquette to identify yourself and your position (I'm XYZ, a nurse at ABC hospital) to whomever is answering the phone. I wouldn't be concerned with the wife "thinking anything," I just think it is the correct way to start the call when a stranger answers the phone.