What is the appropriate way to address a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Assuming you don't know him or her on a first name basis?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

Nurse Ratched, I always address them as Ms. _______ or Mr. _______ unless they ask me to call them by their first name.

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Speaking for myself, call me Mrs. and I will then tell you to call me by my first name, as that is what I am comfortable with. I personally think that Mrs. or Mr. are far preferable to "Nurse" as a title.

Of course, here in the South it usually becomes "Mrs. Firstname" or "Mr. Firstname," as a slightly less formal title of respect. (Someone who is a close family friend usually becomes "Aunt Firstname" or "Uncle Firstname." )

While I don't mind being called by my first name, I make it a point to call older patients Mr. or Mrs. I just can't bring myself to call an 80 year old "Bessie."

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Thanks folks - I want to accord the proper respect and neither doctor nor nurse seemed right, but I wasn't sure about Mr. or Mrs. without some confirmation. 'Preciate the backup :).

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Yep Miz (first name) surely is southern. Right'cheer in SC that is.

They're great aren't they? I'd rather see a NP than most doctors I know.

If someone doesn't know my first name, I'd prefer to be addresed Ms _____, otherwise, I prefer my first name be used. And Ms Gail is fine, too, which *is* the more common where I work!

Gail

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

IN the military,where NP's abound it is easy. It is Captain, Major, Colonel, etc. True for PA's too. It sure is a lot less complicated lol.

I call just about everyone, 'cept for attendings I don't know by their first name.

Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

First name for all coworkers; nurses, NP's, doctors, lab and x-ray techs, office workers, etc.

Your highness? Your excellence? Hey you?

Originally posted by P_RN

Yep Miz (first name) surely is southern. Right'cheer in SC that is.

They're great aren't they? I'd rather see a NP than most doctors I know.

:) My sentiments exactly......in fact my "doctor" IS a NP........I love them. :kiss

To Mark- I only wish that my L&D nurse had your intuition......I'd have a daughter now if she had even listened to me !!

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