Pick your battles with your LNA.....

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · May 11, 2010

Don't sweat it. I'm an Alabama girl, born and raised, and I do the same thing.

Never, ever, had a complaint, and the one time someone in my office told me "Don't do that!", the patient, whom I had addressed as 'hon', threw an arm around my shoulders, and said,

"You call me 'hon' any old time you want to, BABY!"

The whole waiting room cracked up, and she was left with a red face.

I think the drawl does a lot for it, but that's just me.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

I am also a native southerner, and I understand where you are coming from about the ingrained culture. However, some people do not appreciate the implied familiarity that goes along with using terms of endearment directed toward someone you barely know.

roser13, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

"Oh, and by the way, you might have noticed that I was quite busy helping other RNs during the last shift we shared and you wiped your patient's backside most of the night. Keep up the snide comments and you will get more of the same....."Well, you've just validated what nurses have always known..."being too busy to help" is relative to how well you like the nurse.

aileenve, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

I did not know you could pick and choose which patients you provide care for; I am responsible for my job, I agree with Roser13.

meadowsong, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

I worked as a CNA for a number of years and had a huge "Honey" and "Sweetie" problem. I was called on it repeatedly in nursing school and it took me a while to get over it. I still let it slip from time to time. There is a valid reason why you should try to refrain from it, even if it is ingrained in your brain.

Not everyone appreciates being called "Sweetie" after a bed bath, nicknames and terms of endearment are not always appropriate when we refer to our patients. Some people mind, some don't, and some won't say anything even if it does bother them. It's one of those blanket items that we should try to refrain from.

I see where Roser13 is coming from. How you worded your last few lines makes it come across as if you purposely do not help out this particular nurse. I hope that is not the case. I also understand that this is meant to be a vent, she certainly did not need to be nasty to you. Just remember there are reasons why this person may be mentioning things to you.

NanikRN · May 11, 2010

your license(which took at least two years to earn) is on the line when it comes to the care they receive from both of us.....you wiped your patient's backside most of the night. keep up the snide comments and you will get more of the same....

goodness--if we worked together there would be much more to worry about than if you called patients honey or not. i would take that first statement as an implied threat, which i do not take lightly.

i sincerely hope that in your goal of letting off steam (which we all understand) that you used phrasing that you didn't mean.

lucylu 777 · May 11, 2010

yeah, I get you. In the great scheme of things what you call the patient is not important as the promptness and quality of care you provide.Yes, some patients don't like when you call them sweetie as you clean their bottom - but do they care about how you addres them or is their butt clean? Really if the patients don't like what you call them they will let you know, nurses really should not sweat the small stuff, quality of patient care and respect for your co-worker is what really matters in this busy enviroment - not what you called you patient. :smokin:

ktwlpn, LPN · May 11, 2010

I call my patients by their name. I also call them "sir" "maam" "honey" or "friend" especially since all of them are in critical condition. This message is for the nurse who told me not to call her patients "honey" and was nasty about it:
Be grateful I am providing good, solid care for your patients and don't sweat the small stuff. Your license(which took at least two years to earn) is on the line when it comes to the care they receive from both of us. I call everyone "honey". I have lived in the South and in Texas and it is what has been ingrained in me. I am not putting anyone down so just chill. Believe me, I have better things to do. Oh, and by the way, you might have noticed that I was quite busy helping other RNs during the last shift we shared and you wiped your patient's backside most of the night. Keep up the snide comments and you will get more of the same.....
Love,
Your LNA;)

Whoa-great attitude. So you'll "get back" at a nurse you have a personal problem with by taking it out on the patients? Nice. I perceive your comments as threatening and it sounds like you have a BIG problem with authority. News flash-some people consider "honey" very demeaning.It does not really matter where you are from-you've been told to stop it so you should. Perhaps you don't realize how it sounds. I want my loved ones treated with respect no matter how ill they may be-Not "honey" or "sugar" I am guessing you have been told about this before-I would give you one verbal warning and then write you up. If you work in LTC it's something the dept of health considers disrespectful and we don't do it. What exactly is an "LNA"? Is it the same thing as a certifiied nurse assistant? I was not aware that any state "licensed" aides..

Lucky0220 · May 11, 2010

I recently moved to south Texas. We have a very large Latino population. The nurses call our patients Mama and Papa and they love it. Also, most of the CNA's and even our housekeeping staff call me and other staff nurses Mama when they talk to me. I am Anglo, and while this is new to me, I think it is quite endearing. I believe it shows a certain kindness and friendliness, and does not offend me at all, in fact I am flattered by it!

I do believe that you can have a sense of when your patient does not want to be called by any sweetie-type names. And, if you are wrong about them and do so, they will let you know.

There are so many other things to get in a twist about!!! :yawn:

juliaann · May 11, 2010

Punishing patients by not assisting in or providing prompt care because the nurse yelled at you is wrong, wrong, wrong. Wow.

laynaER · May 11, 2010

ktwlpn, there is no need to be nasty about it. She isn't purposefully doing anything wrong and you're jumping to conclusions and assuming she's making threats. She calls people honey for christ sake. I'd be more concerned about the quality of care she is providing, not wasting time writing someone up for something petty like that. If the patient voices their dislike for the pet names, and she continued it, that'd be something entirely different. If the patient isn't complaining, and doesn't mind, I don't see why anyone else should. This is one of the aspects of nursing I hate. You always have managers with nothing else better to do than to make nurse's lives miserable with their frivolous "write ups" all in an effort to excercise their "authority". I think the person's intent is what's important.

Yes, some people consider it to be disrespectful. So OP, to be on the safe side, I'd address everyone professionally because certain things are just not worth fighting over. As long as you do what you're supposed to and deliver the best care, no one should have a problem with you. Good luck.