how do you introduce yourself to patients?

[panamama]

i just had minor surgery and it was the first time i've spent any substantial time in a medical setting since beginning to explore nursing as a career. of course, i was much more observant now that i may be making my way to the field myself! i noticed some things and wondered your take on it, as nurses...

the anesthesist (sp?) took me from the waiting area to the op room and asked me all the history questions and took my BP...but never introduced himself. i don't have any idea if he was a doc or nurse (not that it matters)...or even what his name was. in fact, no one introduced themselves and there were 5 people in the room, counting my doc. i found myself wondering who was what? nurse, LPN, CNA, MA, PA, other? they were all very nice and attentive...it was just curious that no one told me their names or roles or anything.

i thought back to the first surgery i ever had and remembered very clearly that not only did each person tell me who and what they were, but they made it a point to tell me what exactly they would be doing as their part of the procedure. of course, i was i think 20 or 21, alone, scared to death (it was an unexpected urgent surgery), and it definitely showed...so maybe they were just trying to make me feel at ease(?).

so nurses...how do you introduce yourself to patients if at all, and does it matter?

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

It's nice to see that we introduce ourselves to our patients :) (I'm still a CNA, but I do introduce myself), but I think that it is interesting that nurses often introduce themselves with their first names only. I saw that some of you are concerned about security issues, and this is why you don't reveal your last names, and that is totally understandable to me. However, I've been reading some of Suzanne Gordon's books lately, and she makes the case that doctors are almost always referred to by their last names. If a doctor is named Ellen Davis, she calls herself Dr. Davis, not Ellen. I have never had a doctor introduce herself/himself to me by her/his first name only. She wonders why nurses don't put their titles in their names, and say "I'm Nurse Anderson," instead of "I'm Patricia." I never really thought about this issue that way before, and I'm wondering if anyone agrees with her point. I can see the security side of the issue, but I can also understand her point that if doctors can put their titles and last name in their introduction, nurses should, as well.

Just on a personal note, if I introduced myself as Nurse Lastname, I'd feel about three hundred years old and stiff - like I'm missing my white cap or something. I see the point, but "Nurse Lastname" sounds stiff to me in a way that "Dr. Lastname" does not.

I've always said that "Mrs. Lastname" is my mother-in-law; "Nurse Lastname" would feel the same way to me. If someone's going to be asking me to change their bedpan, I'd prefer we were on a first-name basis.

[Dewgrl]

I have often wondered why nurses aren't addressed by their title. EX: Hello, I'm nurse jane and I'll be taking care of you. We address dr's by dr bob or dr smith and I think I'd like being addressed by the title I've earned and name. First name of course, I agree with last names being to formal and a security risk

[Gromit]

I wear my name badge AND introduce myself to each pt without fail. However, anyone wearing scrubs is "Nurse" to most pts; I sometimes wonder if they notice the shift has changed and all new people are there.

Likewise, I also introduce myself by my name (though I just use my first name since its a lot easier than my last, and my ID card (hospital) only has my initials on it) -but you're right, to most patients, a set of scrubs means 'nurse' -and not only are they seemingly unaware of the shifts (not surprising, as most jobs don't have shifts anywhere like our schedules -we have some who are 8hr days, others (lime mine) who are 12hr days, 3 day weeks, etc) so their confusion is certainly understandable.

[*CJA*]

It's nice to see that we introduce ourselves to our patients :) (I'm still a CNA, but I do introduce myself), but I think that it is interesting that nurses often introduce themselves with their first names only. I saw that some of you are concerned about security issues, and this is why you don't reveal your last names, and that is totally understandable to me. However, I've been reading some of Suzanne Gordon's books lately, and she makes the case that doctors are almost always referred to by their last names. If a doctor is named Ellen Davis, she calls herself Dr. Davis, not Ellen. I have never had a doctor introduce herself/himself to me by her/his first name only. She wonders why nurses don't put their titles in their names, and say "I'm Nurse Anderson," instead of "I'm Patricia." I never really thought about this issue that way before, and I'm wondering if anyone agrees with her point. I can see the security side of the issue, but I can also understand her point that if doctors can put their titles and last name in their introduction, nurses should, as well.

These are my questions, as well. Why do nurses have a bigger security issue than doctors do?

Anyway, I think it's Suzanne Gordon's viewpoint that has my school teaching us to intro ourselves with both first and last name. She will be an adjunct/guest faculty member at my school in the fall.

[CIRQL8]

OK - I read page one of the thread, then skipped to page 6 and simmed... but here it goes....

I work in the OR and I always introduce my sekf as "Dave, one of the nurses caring for you insurgery today." I then introduce every one else in the room, and their roles.

In my institution, the circulator does not bring the Pt to the room - a transport person deos after the circulator gets report from the pre-an nurse over the phone. I review the chart outside the OR before entering with the Pt.

[Gromit]

Well, I'm not entirely convinced its a security issue, so much as a familiarity one. I don't care to be called by my last name -for one, most patients would bungle it anyway -or have a bit of difficulty with it (if one asks my last name, I tell them) -I see my patient quite a bit more than the doctor does, so the patient is more likely to know me better than the doc anyway -as well as associate care by the nurse more than by the doc.

Security doesn't bother me. They aren't getting my SS# or anything -just my last name (if they ask) -so what? You afraid of 'em looking up your name in the 'book' ? Take a look in the local directory and there are likely columns of your last name -and they would have to figure out WHERE as well -I don't live close to my facility -I'm in another 'phone book zone'. :) I've just never been THAT paranoid.

[Dewgrl]

Well, I'm not entirely convinced its a security issue, so much as a familiarity one. I don't care to be called by my last name -for one, most patients would bungle it anyway -or have a bit of difficulty with it (if one asks my last name, I tell them) -I see my patient quite a bit more than the doctor does, so the patient is more likely to know me better than the doc anyway -as well as associate care by the nurse more than by the doc.

Security doesn't bother me. They aren't getting my SS# or anything -just my last name (if they ask) -so what? You afraid of 'em looking up your name in the 'book' ? Take a look in the local directory and there are likely columns of your last name -and they would have to figure out WHERE as well -I don't live close to my facility -I'm in another 'phone book zone'. :) I've just never been THAT paranoid.

I wish it was just paranoia:o. I worked in an ER that seemed to have more than our fair share of pysch cases. Our badges at the time had our last names on them (have since been removed). People were always threatning to track us down and kill us (i.e. staff). Even for the normal people who would ask if I was related to so and so. That's not imformation they need for me to take care of them. I don't want pt bothering my family.

[mayflower2000, RN]

I always introduce myself. I would say, Hello, my name is____.I am your nurse. If any problems or anything, let me know straight away. Don't hesitate to call me. Introducing yourself, really makes a difference in caring for a patient. I hope this would become a routine to all of us.:)

[beautifulb]

I introduce myself by my first name. It is the first thing I say when I meet my pt. "Hi Mr. So, my name is Beth. I am going to be your nurse today...". It is such an automatic thing that sometimes I forget that I already introduced myself so I end up saying again "My name is Beth...".

Also, my badge always flips around. No matter what I do. And it has happened for the past 12 years. What do you guys do?

[WOLFE, BSN, RN]

When entering a room or reciving a pt I always start with Good morning, afternoon, evening...My name is Sheila and I will be one of the nurse working with you today. I also always have my ID badge on.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

At the hospital i am a patient at the nurses introduce themselves (some write it on the white board). They introduce themselves even if you had them the day before (I guess incase you forgot.)

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I always introduce myself as Nurse 'last name', and if they seem to be very causual or friendly I will go on to say 'but you may call me 'first name' (I still run into people that don't respect first name basis with their professional care).

Then there is the general after..."I will be your nurse today, and 'so in so' will be your Nursing Assistant who will assist in your care as well." We also have dry erase boards where we put down our name and the CNA's name! That is very helpful! Doing this this way lets the pt know they have two staff members on top of their MD or specilists working for them :).