What do you think about people calling you "honey"?

[Hellllllo Nurse]

I am in my forties, but a lot of people (such as waitresses, sales clerks, cashiers) call me "honey" and "sweetheart" all the time. I think this is fine, when the person is older than me, but I get annoyed when someone who is young enough to be my daughter calls me "honey." Males never call me by these names (with the exception of my husband!)

Occasionally, a subordinate at work will call me "honey. " I tell them immediately not to refer to me that way. But when a waitress does it, I let it go. I'd like to ask them not to, however.

I have only rarely referred to anyone as "sweetheart," and when I have, it's been a child, or a pt in a very vulnerable, hurt state, who is seeking reassurance and protection.

What's your opinion on this?

[sleepyndopey]

I will never understand why some people get upset by things like this. I don't refer to people by these terms of endearment but I am not offended if someone calls me that. Some people just have a habit of using those terms. I'm sure after they got to know you well they wouldn't use them. If I accidentaly called someone honey or sweetheart, without evil intent, and they reprirmanded me I would think very little of them. After all they are just being friendly.

Lighten up.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

If that's the worst thing that happens to me in a day, please call me honey every five minutes.

[EmmaG, RN]

Our portable phones have caller ID, so I sometimes answer "Hey, baby, whatcha wearing?" Which is okay, unless it turns out a doc has borrowed the station clerk's phone to return a page. At least it was a female doc... Well, I've cut back on that, some, but not long ago I got report from the ED that began, "Hey, Baby, whatcha wearing?" So at least I'm not the only one guilty. (I continue to regard sexual harrassment as the best of all forms of harrassment, because at least it's sexual, whereas the others are pretty much just harrassment.)

I so wanna work with you!

:lol2:

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

The older I get (over 50) the more I like hearing it. Intent is important and I feel it is usually used in kindness. I am careful who I call that when I am working. Some seem to like it, some wouldn't. I do work in a warm, touchy/feely ER that is known for its kindness and caring so we must be doing something right.

I think how you percieve being called "honey" has a lot to do with your level of security about yourself. I am content with who and what I am. I feel that I am almost always treated respectfully. My husband on the other hand is insecure and amazingly enough he does not appreciate being called "honey" etc.

When you consider all the meanness out there in the real world I think we could all use a lot more "honey" and a lot less "*****"

[DTC]

Working ALF, I hear terms of endearment from our residents all the time. Doesn't bother me in the least. Being raised in Mississippi, it's a common thing and usually doesn't show disrespect. Like all things, I take them in context. I'm too old to sweat the small stuff, which for me,,this falls under that catagory. :-)

[ericalynn, BSN, RN]

I think it's annoying. My name is Erica, not honey, or sweetie, or whatever. And I find it demeaning when I hear other nurses calling patients honey, or sweetie. They also have names, use them, it shows respect.

[Dolce, RN]

Almost every last one of my elderly patients call me "honey." I think they have me confused with a grandchild. It never bothers me when they do it but it does bug me when a peer or younger person calls me that. Depending on the context it can be very demeaning.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Where I live, it is used by all, regardless. I understand that it is a geographical thing and it does not offend me in the least, even when used by one younger than I. You couldn't remove the "honey" off their lips here any more than you could their Mountain Dew.

Nah... I have bigger fish to fry.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I have never been bothered by a term of endearment from a pt.

[justavolunteer]

I'm 'justavolunteer' on a pt. unit. I have had nurses call me 'dear', 'sweetie' and other such terms because they are so appreciative of my help. Compared to some of the things I was called in the military by my superiors, I'll take 'honey' or 'sweetie' any day!

[EmmaG, RN]

Compared to some of the things I was called in the military by my superiors, I'll take 'honey' or 'sweetie' any day!

Maggot!

:lol2:

[RN1989]

It used to bother me when we moved to the South. But everyone down here says it without really thinking about it. Personally, I prefer to be called "Hey you". No matter how old I get, I don't think of myself as a Ma'am. And you can call me Mrs. all day long and I won't even hear you. I think of Mrs. as my mother in law. I used to answer to my first name but so many people have it that I had to quit answering to it because they were never calling me. I've worked one place where another staff person had my same first and middle name. So we ended up calling us by our last names. But "hey you" works for me just fine. Or "nurse". As long as they aren't referring to me as Nurse with the big butt or something like that.:)