insignificant complaint...lol

Published

does it bother anyone else that doctors are always called "Dr. Soandso" but nurses get called by their first name instead of "Ms/Mrs/Mr Nurse"

ok like I said, its a really insignifcant complaint... but it kind of irked me today.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

In a word.....no.

Why would this bother you? What do you want to be called?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have always wanted to be called Nurse followed by my last name. But the hospitals don't allow us to use our last names. So I am very happy when an old school patient at least calls me Nurse followed by my first name. I do think that is far more respectful than just calling me by my first name, but heck; how are we gonna change this mindset!

I personally think that nursing in general lost respect when whites went away, and caps were stopped. Now a patient doesn't know the houskeeper from the nurse and I believe it makes our jobs much harder. I know MOST will curse the starched whites and caps that never stayed on without a pound of bobby pins......but I think if I were a patient, a nurse who was well-groomed in a real uniform would command subconcious respect. I would just have more faith in her for some reason! Silly, but true!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

We are not allowed to give out surnames & they are not on our badges, for security reasons.

Until u have had a patient somehow get ur mobile number, & call u to tell u they are going to come & kill you, you will not take this seriously (true story).

If patients ask my last name, I just smile & say Carol will do, how about I get a cup of tea/another pillow/get those meds for you? (distraction techniques work great!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

our last names are on our badges anyway.

it just bothered me how doctors, patients etc. who i've never met can just call me by my first name off the bat, but I have to always address them with "Mr./Mrs/Dr."

anyway its just a respect/professionalism complaint... but like I said, pretty insignificant haha.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

also if you had a patient crazy enough to call you up with death threats, i'm pretty sure they could find out who you were without you telling them your last name...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in I/DD.

The only doctors I call Dr are the attending surgeons, and that is because they deserve it. At this point in my career, the residents are about my age. While I usually respect their decisions, they rotate through each service for 1 month so it is usually necessary to educate them on how the unit works. In turn, they educate me on why they are making their decision. So it feels more like a peer-to-peer relationship.

When it comes to patient relations, I prefer them to use my first name. Nothing irks me more than the patient desperately crying "NUUUURSE" when they are fully A+O, call bell in reach, and have my name written on the board. Nursing is supposedly one of the most trusted professional groups (or at least that is what they told me in nursing school), second to firemen post-911. I want my patients to trust me, and I think being on a first-name basis is part of that trust.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree completely with the OP. My problem is handled for me, though. My patients, instead of screaming "NUUUUUURSE" down the hallway, scream "LIEUUUTENNAAAAANNNNTTTTT!!!!"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
I agree completely with the OP. My problem is handled for me, though. My patients, instead of screaming "NUUUUUURSE" down the hallway, scream "LIEUUUTENNAAAAANNNNTTTTT!!!!"

Bless you for all you do

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
We are not allowed to give out surnames & they are not on our badges, for security reasons.

Until u have had a patient somehow get ur mobile number, & call u to tell u they are going to come & kill you, you will not take this seriously (true story).

If patients ask my last name, I just smile & say Carol will do, how about I get a cup of tea/another pillow/get those meds for you? (distraction techniques work great!)

Our last names are on our badges but the would allow us to cover them if we wished. I used to cover it until I realized that my last name is on all of their paperwork anyway. But when introducing myself I'll just say my first name...and being called by my first name is fine by me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As a guy named Patrick, still a long way from getting my license, I'm already planning ahead on how to deal with the confusion pts will experience when calling for Nurse Pat and having a 6'2" hairy dude show up :yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

All I can say is, I would never have my last name on my badge. And the hosp's/agencies don't allow it.

You would be surprised at the length some psych patients will go to get revenge on someone.

And sweetie, people don't need your last or first name to call or come and get you. They just follow you home when u drive home in your car. Pretty scary huh? (Heard a story @ one place, this is how a nurse got murdered by a psych patient, whom the police had had prior, serious convictions for. He was not put in a locked ward, even though his family had begged for him to be locked away somewhere - they actually said to the police he will kill someone one day. And he did).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion