"How are we doing today?"

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Specializes in ER.

I was at a friend's house the other day. This friend of her husband's was there. He had a similar injury to what I sustained last winter and I hadn't seen him since I was in the early stages of recovery. He said "How are we doing today?" LOL.

I knew he was referring to my injury, but ignored that and said "We are doing fine. and how are we doing?" I couldn't help myself, I just have decided to be a smarty pants from now on in life. Then he got more specific and had we had a nice talk about our injuries, comparing notes.

Yet, when I talk to my patients, I find myself just naturally slipping into the same vernacular. "How are we feeling today?" "We're going to need a urine sample" yadda yadda yadda...

Why do we just naturally talk this way to patients. It's like nurse baby talk. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I don't know either. And despite my annoyance at being called "Hon" or some such by medical assistants and nurses, I can still occasionally be witnessed calling a LOL "honey" or "sweetie."

I have no idea what evil force takes over our tongues at such times.

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I was just thinking about this the other day! Although I try not to, I occasionally will say, "We're just going to check your blood pressure," or "We'll get you ready to go in just a minute!" I noticed I say it most when I feel rushed and pulled in a zillion different directions. Like when 434 just had a code brown and needs to be changed (including the bed linens), 3 call lights are on, vitals are late, 427 is being discharged (and we have no transporter, of course), two new patients were just admitted and the RNs needed their admission vitals/weights 10 minutes ago (and I still haven't eaten lunch). Maybe it's because, psychologically, I feel as if there needs to be more of me to get the job done.

:arghh: "We" can't take any more!!!

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I don't know, I don't do it.

I don't do the Hon or Sweetie thing either. Blech.

A co-worker of mine did the Hon-thing-with-the-gentle-forearm-touch-and-sympathetic-glance all the time. I wanted to knock her out.

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I think of "we" as the whole "team". For instance, " we need a urine sample" implies I have thoughtfully collaborated with the doctor to come up with tests that might benefit you. Whether that's truly the case... Ehm.

In other cases, though..... maybe it's a fantasy that someone will appear to help! I've been guilty of saying "we'll get you cleaned up in a minute" when there is no tech that day and I know darn well that me, myself and I will be the only ones changing that bed.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I don't really think in terms of the "royal We", so have no thoughts of using 'we' when talking to patients. I'm originally a New Englander, so I'm really not prone to endearments, not even the ubiquitous 'deah' (dear) of the old-timers from Mass and Maine. I'm not a ma'am or a sir-er nor a sweetie or honey-er either.

Now I have been, on occasion, mischievously moved enough to dub someone with a sort of nickname that is my version/variation of their actual name. mostly as a kind of endearment.

Where I work now most everyone, including patients, has requested being called by first names, but bein' as how this IS the South there are tons of sweetie/darlin'/hon/....but I really draw the line at "precious"....can only imagine Golum, "my precioussssss". Creepy!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I always answer that question with "I'm doing just fine; how are YOU?" It always gets a reaction.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I remember taking care of a critically ill patient one time, who was a frequent flier on our unit. Chronically ill, progressively more frequent admissions where he came in progressively more ill, with each getting longer. He was best described as cantankerous when feeling well. This particular admission he ended up vented, trached, pegged, on airborne isolation, and on an insulin drip with q1h glucose checks for FOREVER. Needless to say, I was in his room ALL the time. I kept saying to him, "Oh, and one more thing."

He snapped, and yelled at me the best he could through his trach, "Stop saying one more thing! It's never one more thing! There's always more and I know you're going to be in here all night!"

Since then, I've tried to be reallly cautious of how I use that phrase.

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Specializes in ER, Med/Surg, Telemetry, Dialysis.

I have a coworker that is constantly doing the "honey, sweetie, oh sure love" thing...like nails on a chalkboard to me but the patients seem to love it and probably think I'm the mean nurse cause I take no part in those shenanigans lol! I also had a coworker when I was still a waitress who would greet every table with "hi what are we having to drink today?"...maybe she was just living vicariously through them and wishing for a drink too? Always followed by "are we ready to order?" Drove me nuts

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

The MA at my doctor's office calls me mom. :| I hate it with a passion. No. Just NO!

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The MA at my doctor's office calls me mom. :| I hate it with a passion. No. Just NO!

What??? Why??

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
What??? Why??

I don't know. I wish I knew. I live in south Texas so maybe it's a regional thing but I wasn't born down here. It gets under my skin. I don't know you! So much no!

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