What do you call the Doc?

[Flipper911]

I have noticed the rules are different at each place I work. In the units we usually are on a first name basis with all the physicians. We all know each other and it is a very good atmosphere.

In the teaching facilities where I have worked all the residents are called by their first name, not to be disrespectful - just that was how it always done.

I once had a resident ask my name and I gave my first name and she held out her hand and replied, "I am Dr Hassan". I read her badge (Margaret Hassen) and said, "nice to meet you Maggie".

I don't understand how some nurses feel it is disrespectful to call a physician by the first name. I know nurses that still give up their chair and call every physician DR Whatever. If they come find me and use my first name then I gonna use theirs and have not had much issue with that.

The one exception I do make is when I call about a patient. In those cases, I do call them by Dr Whatever. Even if every other time I run into them it is Bill or Rob. Just an odd quirk.

Just wondering what is the norm for others?

[dinah77, ADN]

I don't see anything wrong with calling someone who refers to you by your first name by their first name

Why is this wrong?

I use this rule in all aspects of my life- when docs have call me just "nurse" I call them just "doc"

If they call me " Mrs. Doe" I call them "Mr. or Mrs whatever"

There is nothing more inherently valuable about earning a M.D that requires a special courtesy- It is equally as valuable as making it through the h*** of nursing school and boards.

So I usually let a person I meet take the lead, and by using the same title they address me by, I am being assertive and letting them know we both deserve respect.

[j621d]

"Jerk" sometimes (LOL), otherwise it depends on the situation. In front of patients or formal meetings, Dr. Smith.

[mskate]

I call everyone by their first name, only very very occasionally will I call a doc by their last name with a title - and even then it is "Dr. B." - and it is very casual.

They are my co-workers, not my superiors. They went to school to get an education for the job - not to get a respect title from coworkers. If I wanted to call people by titles out of respect - I would be in the military. I also expect to be called by my first name.

It is a level playing field with the entire health care team - CNA, RN, RT, MD, NP - you are joe, sally, steve and mary. If I need to specify - Sally, the CT surgeon. I know their last name for putting in orders and if its a resident, I usually have to ask what their last name is because I don't know them by that.

When I talk with patients, I will usually say "the resident covering tonight" - because chances are, I don't even know who is covering the unit that night yet. If that patient is talking about their attending, I will use a last name simply because that is what the patient knows the doc by.

I go get drinks with our docs, we hang out, we work together. Most of us will even text message the attending if we are having needs - a few people will even shoot them a facebook message if the paging system isn't working correctly.

It makes for a MUCH nicer working environment, a MUCH better learning environment and everyone works together MUCH better than in other places I have worked where people allow there to be a system in place where the nurse is less than the MD, offers their chairs, says "yes sir" and "no, ma'am".

[PedsAtHeart, LPN]

I refer to them as Dr. so and so... even if I have a personal relationship with them I still do this.

I also would not call someone by a nickname unless that person said thats what they wanted. My first name is Samantha. When I introduce myself to people, I introduce myself as such, and if they respond "Hi Sam" or "nice to meet you Sam", I have been known to correct them. Its SAMANTHA not Sam!

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

Duh! I would not use the real name.

Okay calm down. I was not being mean,it just sounded real and I was just trying to help.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I think "hey you" works pretty good, lol.

Not that it matters but I call my doctor by his first name. I'm paying him. I'll call him what I want. lol He actually introduces himself by first name anyway.

[FLArn]

I always call them Dr. Smith or Dr. Doe. There is nothing off-putting about this and we have a strongly equitable working relationship; where I am respected and my opinions count. However, we are NOT friends we are co-workers and colleagues. The only exception to this was a doc we had whose last name was unpronounceable-- he was Dr. F. to everyone! lol!

[rn4ever?]

I call him doctor if he is a doctor. They worked hard for that title (and I'm sure spent a lot too J), so it's just proper to call them as such. Unless of course, we are super close or if he insists that I call him by his first name.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I don't want "Larry" or "Bob" making life and decisions on myself or pts that I care for. I want Dr Smith or Dr Doe making those decisions. It may be my baby boomer upbringing, but it is a sign of respect to address professionals in a professional manner. I also address pts by last names, Mr Smith, Mrs Doe as it is also a sign of respect.

I know it sounds stuffy.

[microkate]

I don't have experience on the nursing side (yet), but I did work in research for 8 years as a lab tech. Some PhDs were more formal, some were more casual. I always called them "Dr. Xavier" when first meeting them. 2 of my employers left it at that, though I could call them Dr. "X", one started laughing and told me I could call her by her first name, because the full title was too formal. As always, the best thing is to introduce yourself as you wish to be addressed, and they should do the same.

I teach as well, and to my adult students I go by my first name, and to the kids I go by Ms. Lastname. I just make sure that I introduce myself by whatever name I want them to call me.

[GM2RN]

I don't want "Larry" or "Bob" making life and decisions on myself or pts that I care for. I want Dr Smith or Dr Doe making those decisions. It may be my baby boomer upbringing, but it is a sign of respect to address professionals in a professional manner. I also address pts by last names, Mr Smith, Mrs Doe as it is also a sign of respect.

I know it sounds stuffy.

I'm a boomer too and agree with this. I actually think it's disrespectful to call a doc by their first name when first meeting them, and I would NEVER presume to call them a nickname. Once you get to know them and establish a more casual relationship, or if they tell you right off to call them by their first name, then it's different. Until then, it's last name with a title. And if you want to be called Mr. or Miss/Ms./Mrs., then by all means identify yourself as such you have the right to expect to be called that.

[CorpsmanRN, BSN, RN]

I tend to call them "Doctor ___" - due to my military experience. Our MDs are usually called Doctor, Sir, or by their rank (usually Captain). We tend to call our PAs & our independent medics "Doc." So since I am 1 of 2 medics for my unit (& no MD or PA), our crew call us "Doc." Although now that I have just received my RN license, I wonder if they'll start calling me Nurse ____ :)

Having spent more than 10 years in the military (& still going), that way of life is still embedded in my brain. So MDs are Doctor or Sir/Ma'am and I have caught myself still calling PAs "Doc", but I try to call them Mr./Ms. or Sir/Ma'am (so that I don't get chewed out for giving them a title they don't have). I have a hard time calling a PA, let alone a Dr, by their first name though, because I still see them as someone who out-ranks me. I've had a couple PAs look at me funny, but none have ever said "Call me Bob" or whatever.

I'm sure once I start working as a RN in the civilian world, my military habits will subside. Ha!, I'm finally used to responding to my first name being called versus my last name :)