Please don't call me Dude

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I notice that calling anyone, man or woman, Dude seems to be the new fashion. Some of my younger colleagues will sometimes address me as 'Dude'!

It used to be that only young guys used Dude to address one another, more often in the stoner culture. Now younger women will use it on me, a 50 something matron!

Let me say here, I don't care for it. I am not a dude. You all are welcome to use my name, but please don't call me Dude.

It would not bother me and I've been in nursing for 43 years. I agree with another poster's comment about it being a term of endearment. Most of all I think it's the delivery that counts. If it's condescending address it immediately otherwise ignore it. If it truly bothers you, even when used in fun and meaning no disrespect, ask the person politely to call you by your name.

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What if they call you The Dude?

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
What if they call you The Dude?

Then you abide.

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The I'm not your dude comments got thinking of

Im not your friend, buddy! I'm not your buddy, guy! I'm not your guy, friend

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How do you like same age colleagues calling you ma'am, I hate it

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

I think a lot of people need to work in industries where you are called a helluva lot worse (with threats). Be it in customer service, a cleaner, taxi driver, public servant, telemarketing etc. To be called a 'dude' doesn't even register on the radar.

Everyone has their own way of speaking and if they are providing a service to you? Hey they are supporting themselves.

Relax.

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Specializes in hospice.

I am 40 and was raised in coastal Southern California. I remember conversations among my friends about how you could have an entire conversation by just repeating the word "dude" with different inflections. My Illinois-born, mostly Arizona-raised Army brat father once threatened to permanently silence me if he ever heard the word "dude" pass my lips again.

It's not a new thing. ;)

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Specializes in Psychiatric.
I use sunshine a lot because I feel like it's unisex and honestly, I almost never remember my patients names. (I know, it's bad).

One day I walked into a patients room and said "Morning sunshine". He replied "Well Hi there Moonbeam".

Sorry, just made me think of it.

I"m this random IRL, also. :-/

One of our nurses was called Moonbeam as a term of endearment by a (particularly difficult) client. She loved it!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Although I am originally from the West Coast, I have spent my entire nursing career in the South where it is customary to refer to people by 'Mr' or 'Ms' plus their first names, i.e. Mr. Rob, Ms. Catherine, Ms. Jessica, etc.

I relocated to this part of the country 10 years ago when I was in my mid 20s. It felt admittedly weird when the CNAs would refer to me as Ms. TheCommuter.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
One of my friends is a nurse and she said she hated being called "girl" in her hospital job--she'd correct them with "no I am your nurse and my name is ____."

I am black. Virtually all of my black friends, acquaintances and coworkers dislike being called 'boy' or 'girl' by older Caucasian people.

It reminds them of the Jim Crow days when blacks were condescendingly referred to as 'boy' and 'girl' to belittle them as childlike people without identities who needed to be controlled. Essentially, being called 'boy' or 'girl' is seen as a slap in the face.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I agree commander. I'm white and I cringe when ever I hear someone called by boy or girl. It's disrespectful.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Oops. I spelled your name wrong!! Forgive me😞

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