What is the correct title?

Nurses Relations

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Hello, I am a medical student about to graduate and start residency, and I have a question. I always felt it was rude for doctors to call a nurse by their first name, and before I start residency at a new hospital I wanted to ask what the proper title is for an RN? Should I say "Nurse Smith?" or "Mr/Mrs Smith?" or something else? Its also frustrating to me that a lot of hospitals only display people's first name on their name badge, in this case would it be dumb to call someone Mr/Mrs/Ms John/Cindy etc .. or Nurse Cindy/John? I hate walking up to someone I don't know and calling them by their first name. I wanted to know if there was any convention in this case, and apart from that, what is the general nursing opinion. Thank you, and I'm sorry if I posted this in the wrong section.

I know one other way. I see it on the floor...you can say Miss, and their first name. Like " Hey Miss Nicole." Some nurses like that. It's a way of showing respect while also staying on a first name basis. I do that for nurses that have been around awhile.

I would not like that, actually, so I would not suggest doing that. I honestly just prefer the use of my first name.

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The only place I've ever seen a doctor say "Nurse Smith" or "Nurse Perkins" is in really, really old movies.

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Specializes in military nursing.

You have such a good attitude. Being a Navy nurse I hardly know anyone's first name, as we call each other by rank and last name (i.e. LTJG Smith, CAPT Brown). All of our civilian employees we address as Ms. or Mr.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Hello, I am a medical student about to graduate and start residency, and I have a question. I always felt it was rude for doctors to call a nurse by their first name, and before I start residency at a new hospital I wanted to ask what the proper title is for an RN? Should I say "Nurse Smith?" or "Mr/Mrs Smith?" or something else? Its also frustrating to me that a lot of hospitals only display people's first name on their name badge, in this case would it be dumb to call someone Mr/Mrs/Ms John/Cindy etc .. or Nurse Cindy/John? I hate walking up to someone I don't know and calling them by their first name. I wanted to know if there was any convention in this case, and apart from that, what is the general nursing opinion. Thank you, and I'm sorry if I posted this in the wrong section.

You are fine....and very considerate to ask. There night be certain parts of the country that have the respectful yes ma'am no ma'am...

"Excuse me miss/ma'am/sir...but I don't know your name I'm Red/Dr Red and you're....." is a pretty neutral way of introducing your self. First names are usually used these days .... some facilities request the MD's to be called Doctor.....especially in front of the patient.

I'm old school...you are Doctor in front of the patient and whatever you prefer in the nurses station.

I think you are going to be a fine MD.

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I think it's great that you came here to post this! I think the others have offered great suggestions/ideas.

I would be fine with my first name. I have one doc that calls me Miss (First name) as well as the other nurses who are in my age bracket and older. The younger nurses who are more in his age bracke,t I've noticed, he calls by just their first name. Seems like a respect your elders sort of thing. It's fine with me, I am only in my mid 40's but quite a bit older than him.

Whatever you call the nurses don't call them "YOU!" with a head nod. I have one particular doc who refers to any nurse as YOU...as in YOU (as he does a head nod in the direction of the YOU he's speaking AT) what's room 219's labs.

I wish you the best of luck. If you keep that respect for the nurses, I'm sure you will be one of the favorites and have no issues.

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

It never hurts to just ask. I myself prefer "Goddess" :sarcastic:.

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I have no trouble being called Mrs. XXXXX, both in the academic setting and the clinical setting. I'm okay with my first name, but I've reached an age where students tend to call me Ms. XXXX or Dr.XXX, and I realize that it represents a certain respect. I am a little uncomfortable that physicians usually introduce themselves to patients as "Dr. YYYY", but nurses are always expected to be on a first name basis with patients. I always try to use titles with patients, unless they make it clear to me that first names are acceptable. You may guess that I am over 60:)

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Not a nurse, yet! But, in all of clinicals I have seen everyone on a first name basis. As I student I call the nurses Miss or Mr first name, out of respect, even if they are younger than me. In my mind they are elder in experience, ya know?

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Specializes in Pedi.

Call me by my name. Do not call me "Hey Nurse" or "Hey you!"

I've never been called "Ms _______" or "Nurse _______". In my area of the country, someone would look at you quite strangely if you called them "Ms Mary" or whatever. I've always called doctors (other than Attendings and even some Attendings once I've known/worked with them for a while) by their first names as well.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

IMO, I'd err on the side of too polite (e.g, Mr. X, Ms. Y) until you find out how the nurses prefer to be addressed...but keep in mind that every workplace as well as every nurse is different.

In all the places I've worked in, most of the nurses prefer to be addressed by their first name. That's how I prefer to be addressed. However, you may come across the occasional nurse who prefers to be addressed in a more formal manner.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Supervisory, HEDIS, IT.

Males will probably not want to be called Nurse _____. I know I don't lol. It just sounds weird...First names are perfectly fine.

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Males will probably not want to be called Nurse _____. I know I don't lol. It just sounds weird...First names are perfectly fine.

Why would a male nurse not want to be called "Nurse"? How can it be weird? This is bizarre.

Anyway, Doctor- nurses are always clamoring to increase their professional stature, and status. I'll offer that since I call you "Dr. Smith", that you call me "Nurse Smith". That's the proper, and professional, thing to do, the professional manner in which to address a nurse. Naturally, if I know you personally, I'll call you "Bob", whether socially, or in the workplace- and you'd call me "Suzie". But would I call you "Bob", not knowing you, if a patient needed an order? And would you call me "Suzie" if a patient needed treated, and you didn't know me, personally? No, you wouldn't. "Nurse Smith", until and unless you know me on a personal or social level, thanks.

The sexist double standard remains.

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