"My Nurse"

[Appleofmyeye]

I wanted to know what are some thoughts about physicians who refer to nurses as "My Nurse".

[jb_mmmm, BSN, RN]

is that a thing? i haven't heard it at the hospital where i'm at

[JKL33]

My answer goes right along with my consistent theme: There is treatment of nurses that bothers me far more than this ever possibly could even if some doctor called me "my nurse" every day for a million years.

I suspect this was much more common when many more doctors were actually the employers of nurses and/or when they categorically had significant direction and influence over the activities in nursing units. Those days are gone so let's move on.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

This is just not something to get upset about. Context is everything. If the doctor actually employs the nurse, or is the nurse's supervisor, then he or she is indeed "his nurse." Just like his PA is "his" PA. If the doctor is not the employer or supervisor, then I fail to see why this is offensive. In other fields, it is quite common for the senior person involved to say things like "my team," "my staff," "our people," etc. I refer to my MA as "my" assistant, because that is what he or she is. It is just a figure of speech. I am so tired of people looking for things to be offended by.

[HandsOffMySteth]

In the military, officers often refer to their first sergeant as "my first sergeant". If anything shows ownership and that infers pride in that person. Take it as a compliment.

[cardsFNP]

It is interesting that people are calling it paternalistic when OP never specified whether the physician was male or female.

[DextersDisciple, BSN, RN]

I work with technologists in procedural rooms. The assignment is never the same so it’s common to be asked, “who are your techs?” And reply with “jack and Jill are my techs” And vise Versa with nurses. It’s a shorter And easier way to ask “which techs are assigned to your room today?” No one takes offense.

[AlwaysLearning247, BSN]

It depends on who says it. Sometimes it sounds degrading but other times it feels like you’re part of a team. For example, a boss says “my nurses are the best”, you feel like part of a team. If you have a random doctor that you hardly know say “let me get one of “my” nurses to help you”, that is uncomfortable. We aren’t someone’s property. I’ve never heard anyone say “my nurses” in a hospital setting.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I'm only speaking for myself, but there is only so much outrage I can generate on any given day. There is so much going on in the world, in our country, and in my own personal sphere that seems so much more worthy of my angst, I just can't get worked up over stuff like this. If they don't intend to imply ownership, I'm not upset about it, and if they do mean something demeaning, it says more about them than me, so I'm still not going to view it as my problem.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Generally, it gives me a sense of belonging when I hear "my nurse". If a doc or other coworker treated me with disrespect, then I wouldn't see it that way.

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

Am I the only nurse here who refers to the physicians I work with as "my docs"? I have only heard "my docs" refer to any of our team as 'my nurse" on a couple of occasions where one of us was being assaulted or harassed. I see "my" in the same context of "our" -- it's team talk. All of us use the "our" more than the "my", but the spirit of the language is the same -- we're doing important work together and we are interdependent. And yes, there is a sense of being proud to be associated with someone involved in the "my", "our". A case in point ... many people make a point to say of the current president, "he is NOT MY president".

I suppose it's all about intent, but I've just never seen a provider actually say this intending to claim ownership of someone (and I've been doing this long enough to remember when nurses jumped out of their chairs to give them to the docs).

[hannahgb]

The last time I heard that phrase was from an Older Physician and the meaning was I appreciate and respect these nurses and I am proud to work with them--he did not say that to all the Nurses

Sometimes I think we need to get over ourselves---Remember respect is earned--the same as physicians have to earn my respect

[stablesystole]

I'd be thrilled if any of our surgeons felt connected enough to refer to us in a possessive sense. It might imply some sort of bond or familiarity that we don't have