I have a surname. I'd like to use it.

[1Tulip]

At the hospital at which I'm planning to work, Nurses' name tags say (in big letters) SUSAN and in little letters below that... Smith, RN. Consequently nurses are called by their first names just like the housekeeping staff are.

Back in the old days... I called my patients "Mr. Brown" or "Mrs. Smith". I introduced myself as "Miss McCann". Amonst ourselves we used our first names, but we called the doctors "Dr. Jones". Am I a complete fossile living in another era? Seems to me that peer professionals should be given similar courtesies.

Guess I'm dreaming, huh?

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

I can completely sympathize with TwoAndDone. She has to be very conscious about the special risks she faces.

But reading through this thread, I'm wondering why docs can use their last names but we have to be fearful about using ours. My hubby is a doc but everyone knows his last name. Do you think we are at more of a risk in the work setting than we are at... say, a restaurant where we hand over our credit cards without even a second thought???

Are nurses at special risk for being stalked and if so, why?

I recognize that nurses come and go to work often at night and it's happened that sometimes criminals are lying in wait (which is why lighting and other protective measures are employed). But why are we at greater risk AS NURSES for having stalkers use our surnames to victimize us?

Because, some people tend to react poorly when they do not get their own way or the outcome that they want. If a family member has a bad outcome, they perceive it as the nurse's fault - rather than just something that happens.

Sometimes, you will have a family member acting out and security will have to be called. Do you think they blame their own inability to control themselves or the nurse who called security?

Doctors typically don't have to deal with these things because 1) people generally choose their doctors 2) doctors aren't providing the hands-on care (and wouldn't be the ones to have to set limits/boundaries with the visitors) and 3) people tend to hold doctors with a higher regard - if something didn't go right, it MUST have been the nurse's fault.

These are just things a med-surg or ICU nurse might come across. ER nurses have to deal with every drug-seeking whack job that comes through the doors.

[1Tulip]

That's a decent rationale and a good point.

Now... granted, I am a fossile and a throw back to before the flood...

But when I was a pt. in an ER earlier this year, I was taken care of by (on her name tag) "Tina". But Tina was referring to me as "Mrs.___" and I would have liked to have reciprocated, because that's what I'm comfortable with.

Would it not be better to give pts both first and last names and allow them the option?

There's probably no right answer. Just personal judgement and institutional policies.

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

But see, not using your last name as a protective issue is a ruse.

Look, somebody forcused enough to employ extreme measures to find where you live doesn't have to jump through all that many more hoops to find your last name. They just have to exercise their right to review their chart. It's right there, in black and white.

If somebody is THAT motivated, not having your last name on your tag or not using it in your practice isn't going to stop them.

In the meantime, to "protect" us in ways that really don't protect us at all, we are selling our professionalism.

Language and the way we communicate means somthing. Dr. Smith and nurse sally is a communication structure that say oodles about the state of nursing today.

Not only are we being shown are place, we are readily, eagerly staking it out.

~faith,

Timothy.

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

But see, not using your last name as a protective issue is a ruse.

Look, somebody forcused enough to employ extreme measures to find where you live doesn't have to jump through all that many more hoops to find your last name. They just have to exercise their right to review their chart. It's right there, in black and white.

If somebody is THAT motivated, not having your last name on your tag or not using it in your practice isn't going to stop them.

In the meantime, to "protect" us in ways that really don't protect us at all, we are selling our professionalism.

Language and the way we communicate means somthing. Dr. Smith and nurse sally is a communication structure that say oodles about the state of nursing today.

Not only are we being shown are place, we are readily, eagerly staking it out.

~faith,

Timothy.

An out-of-control visitor, family member (or anyone else that may have to be removed from the premises by security) would NOT have access to the medical record.

[Someday-C.R.N.A.]

Nurse 'Smith'

Or Mr. 'Smith'

for me.

Thank you.

[fergus51]

An out-of-control visitor, family member (or anyone else that may have to be removed from the premises by security) would NOT have access to the medical record.

True, but they know where you work. They just have to wait for you to leave the hospital. Unfortunately that's the reality of life today.

I have had the siblings of my patients call me by my first name and title because their parents don't allow them to call adults by just their first name. I thought it was sweet. The other nurses called me Miss Tracy for a few shifts:chuckle

This is an individual choice and I have never seen someone be called by their surname if they introduce themselves by their first name or vice versa.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

True, but they know where you work. They just have to wait for you to leave the hospital. Unfortunately that's the reality of life today.

I have had the siblings of my patients call me by my first name and title because their parents don't allow them to call adults by just their first name. I thought it was sweet. The other nurses called me Miss Tracy for a few shifts:chuckle

This is an individual choice and I have never seen someone be called by their surname if they introduce themselves by their first name or vice versa.

I think your last paragraph should sum it up.

This IS an individual choice.

I don't want to be called "Nurse Last Name" . . . . too reminiscent of

Nurse Goodbody

Which I've heard and hate . . . . .

steph

[SouthernLPN2RN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I've always used my first name. I call pts by their first names as well if I have their permission. I also think it's better when trying to arouse someone who's been sedated or is having changes in LOC to address them by their first names. If nothing else, they can wake up and cuss me out for not choosing the appropriate name, lol!!!

[fergus51]

I think your last paragraph should sum it up.

This IS an individual choice.

I don't want to be called "Nurse Last Name" . . . . too reminiscent of

Nurse Goodbody

Which I've heard and hate . . . . .

steph

:chuckle It makes me think of Nurse Ratched. But, like I said if someone else considers using last names as a sign of respect I would consider it disrespectful for them to call me only by my first name. Those are the people who call me Miss X or Nurse X.

[artistnurse]

If the other staff are called by their surnames. The housekeeping staff should be also. Beyond titles each person is just that-a person, everyone deserves the same respect, regardless of occupation.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

:chuckle It makes me think of Nurse Ratched. But, like I said if someone else considers using last names as a sign of respect I would consider it disrespectful for them to call me only by my first name. Those are the people who call me Miss X or Nurse X.

Well, that rarely happens. There is one guy who walks to the hospital every day - one of our cardiac rehab graduates. He visits the LTC folks. He always says "Hi, Mrs. Last Name" to me. Cracks me up. But I wouldn't change it.

steph

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Our hospital permits us to put the name that we want to be called in the large letters on our name tag. Our full name is printed down near to bottom in much smaller print (state law). I know a couple of nurses that like being called by their last name only (an old practice).