Ok class, if someone at work offers you a piece of the apple pie they brought, what is the best response if you don't want any?
a) *sneer* Oh, I can't stand apple pie, yuck!
b) *smile* No thank you.
The answer is B. A simple no thank you is the courteous way to refuse an offer of food.
I'm hoping that others here can politely offer some etiquette tips to help uplift our fellow nurses and improve our profession. I find that boorish behavior is far too prevalent amongst nurses, and in society as a whole
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
LOL Viva! Hopefully we'll still be blasting "Sister Christian" (or something similar) even when we DO have our big Kleenex purses and walkers!
Though not infirm enough for the walker, I do have a goodly amount of folded paper-towels in my purse.
And on the way home tonight I was singing loudly with a cranked-UP Talking Heads' "Burnin' Down The House!" and banging....oops, drumming on my steering wheel.
But that gives a point of how people would like to be addressed; some people do believe Sir and Ma'am are relegated to older adults, that doesn't mean they wouldn't prefer to be addressed respectfully; they prefer Mr., Miss, Ms. or Mrs., just a thought.
This!
I despise being called sir. I don't see it as a form of respect, yet I see it as a form of subservience (maybe that comes from watching one too many slavery movies ) ... And because I never see anyone as beneath me I sometimes try to tell them that they can call me by my first name.
If I'm in a particularly bad mood, I have been known to spit sir or ma'am back at them in Every. Single. Response. .... after they use sir. I KNOW that's rude, but unfortunately that's me and how I deal lol
However, I don't mind being called hon or sweetie by females or dude or buddy by guys ...
I despise being called sir. I don't see it as a form of respect, yet I see it as a form of subservience (maybe that comes from watching one too many slavery movies ) ... And because I never see anyone as beneath me I sometimes try to tell them that they can call me by my first name.
However, I don't mind being called hon or sweetie by females or dude or buddy by guys ...
Clearly, I'm not from the South ...
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I'm a big believer in Sir, say it all the time. And I can't tell you how many times I've gotten crap about it in public! Yeah, sorry I called you sir, I'm sure yelling at me in line when I just let you go ahead of me is a great lesson to your kid!
It is a sign of respect and if a person has a problem with that, then they need to realize that's their opinion. But the majority of people using it are saying it out of respect.
Heck when I was a medical receptionist in a peds office I called a mom up to fill out some paperwork and addressed her as Mrs. Snotty. She gets up to counter and screams "It's MS.SNOTTY NOT MRS!!!" Gee lady, sorry for assuming you were married....
Dealing with Boorish behavior is basic, and it depends on two things:
1. Boundaries
2. Assertiveness (to defend your boundaries).
"Thank you, but I'll pass" is a good answer if you don't want the pie. If they keep pushing, just say "No, thank you" each time. You don't have to explain anything to anyone, like how you're on a diet or avoiding sugar.
I know that I, personally, hate being called Mrs. Poppycat. However, when I first meet someone younger than I am, I think it's appropriate for them to address me that way until I tell them it's ok to call me by my first name. It's just a matter of simple respect.
I hate it when people who know that I'm married call me "Miss Last name"... I've been married for over 10 years, and I have certainly earned the" MRS." !!! ETA I don't mind being called Hun, sweetie, etc, but I HATE being called Miss!!! However, if someone doesn't know that I'm married I let it slide until I can tell them I'm Mrs, not Miss.
) ... And because I never see anyone as beneath me I sometimes try to tell them that they can call me by my first name. 
lol
No Stars In My Eyes
5,626 Posts
Though not infirm enough for the walker, I do have a goodly amount of folded paper-towels in my purse.
And on the way home tonight I was singing loudly with a cranked-UP Talking Heads' "Burnin' Down The House!" and banging....oops, drumming on my steering wheel.