Does it bother you when Nurses or hospital staff talk to their patients like their 4 years old?? I am a very new nurse and I am picking up habits as I go along, some good and unfortunatley some bad. My patients are generally sedated and I have watched so many nurses talk to thier patient almost in a baby voice, saying things like "honey, sweetheart, darlin, sugar" and even some nurses who refer to their patients as "my love". I totally understand that these are endearing names, and the nurses who do this are certainly not intending to offend someone. I dont think I would mind if staff talked to me this way however I can also see how this would come off as offensive to the patient or belittling. I am doing my best to catch myself if I do this. So, my question is, would this be offensive to you? And do you speak to your patients this way?
When I've been really sick in the hospital as a patient, I didn't give a hoot what they called me as long as they took care of me. I saw these endearments more as an expression of the nurses' personality. I don't usually use them in caring for my patients, unless it's appropriate, (a child, needy LOL, etc.) to help soothe/reassure the patient.
I think that many residents in long-term care like to get this affectionate treatment from staff, as many of them have no family that visits, and the staff is like family to them.
I used to do it all the time with my confused patients.
I told my patient who would not sleep and kept trying to get OOB to go 'Nighty nights". But I think that has more to do with the fact I am the mother to a small child.
still, you are not the mother to an elderly, confused patient.
they still deserve to be treated with dignity.
iow, you just cannot rubberstamp an answer for one size fits all.
however we address our pts, it has to be unique to the relationship betw you and s/he.
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
I agree with the above poster on this one. ..BUT some people, like "manchildren" need that kind of sweet talk. I do the baby talk thing with my significant other, especially when he's sick he eats it up. Maybe it is a man thing.
So if someone is "regressed" that should be reinforced?
I've seen both males and females, who have never faced adversity before, act childish in the face of acute illness or post-op.
Manchild needs to be told to "man up," not treated like a baby.
I never used to call patients anything but by their first or last name. In fact, I would ask them what he or she preferred to be called. That being said, I have watched other nurses refer to patients as "dear" with no negative non-verbal indications and I started to use that term too. I have asked patients if it bothers them, and I have never had anyone say "yes". That being said, I remember specific professional training that advises not to uses such terms as it is less professional. That hasn't stopped me though, and I haven't heard any patients complaining. Although, if the CEO of the hospital were present, I probably would stick to first name/last name. JM:twocents:.
I think it is unprofessional to speak to adults in that manner. I just got finished looking at a thread asking if nurses would be viewed with more respect if more men practiced. I think this manner of speaking to people reinforces that we are just a bunch of mother hens.
As a "manchild" I will say that on more than one occasion as a patient, if a nurse walks into the room and starts in with the sweetie, dear, honey, sugar, etc., I have told them to turn around, walk back out the door, come back in and try it again from the top. When I am sick I don't even like to be talked to in a normal tone, much less sweet talked.
I often call patients hon or love. It is usually after I have had them a few times, and get to know them better, but I know I should NOT do this. It can be offensive to some, or even condescending.
I developed this habit when I was a tech and have not been able to break it. However, somewhere in my psyche, I don't use the terms on the patients I don't have that type of rapport with. It is weird, it is not a conscious decision I make, it just slips out naturally.
I know this will come back to bite me in the you know what someday!
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
I ask my patients what they prefer to be called. Last time I was a patient, the nurse in the recovery room kept caliimg me "dear heart". It was SO annoying and abouth the o ly thing I remember. I was not her dear heart or any other kind of dear.
I don't speak to people like this. But I've worked with nurses who call people luvvy, sweetheart, petal, etc. No-one got offended, I think it made some really sick patients feel wanted and cared for.
I call paediatrics & very young people sweetie sometimes but that's it. Teenage guys don't like people calling them names; they squirm & get embarrassed. They even tell their mums off for calling them pet names!
The "hon" thing come out of my mouth frequently, probably because I was born and raised in Baltimore where it is the general term used to address everyone!
I do find myself using dear or hon frequently with my labor patients,usually the young ones, as in "Come on hon, you can do this" or I know it's hard dear, but just a little longer".
It seems to be accepted, probably because I am older than many of their mothers, approaching the age of their grandmas, so it sounds reassuring rather than condescending. I don't use these terms with my 40 yr old multips though!
Now my newborns get called all kinds of pet names - from cutie to bubba!
:D:D:D:D:D:D
he eats it up. Maybe it is a man thing.
Hygiene Queen
2,232 Posts
Play to your audience.
I think we can usually get a fairly accurate read on our pts and respond to that reading accordingly.
Some staff are not able to do that and talk to all their pts the exact same way. That's where they get into trouble.
Go with your gut.