It's not really silly, but disrespectful when you consider that patients, especially elderly patients, come from an era where you never addressed your elders by their first name. I'm 55 & this was something you just didn't do. It was always Mr or Mrs before their last name back when I was growing up. Having someone young enough to be your grandchild call you by your first name can be quite upsetting, which isn't desirable in any medical situation.

I am Navy Reserve, and southern.
I have a hard time not calling older enlisted women "mam".

"Mr. Smith, I've come to shave your willy."

I wonder how many times that exact phrase has been used in porn.

Teachers and authority figures I truly respected I referred to as their last name without Mr. or Mrs. Example: Mr. Olsen I referred to as Olsen. Mrs. Rutz was Rutz. etc.

I'm a formal person. When I'm in a formal setting and I'm already pissed, people will ask my name and I'll respond with my last name...it's obvious it's my last name. Sometimes they'll say, "Well what's your first name?"

"It's Mister." Grrrr.

/When did we become friends?
//Or drinking buddies?
///[Cameron Frye voice] Call me sir goddamit!

"Mr. Smith, I've come to shave your willy."


Uh, my name's not Mr. Smith, I shave my own willy, and from now on I'll lube my own crankshaft.

"Mr. Smith, I've come to shave your William."

it's up there with kids who call their parents by their first names. Drives me farking batshiat, no matter how old the kid is. Sounds horrible.

Personally, I do not feel comfortable calling elderly people by their first names. But that said, calling people my own age "ms so and so" seems really stilted and pretentious.

Nurse thread!

Despite the impression I might give to some, my children are taught to call everyone Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so. They do otherwise only if specifically requested by the adult.

Frankly it's one of those things that just shouldn't go out of style. There's nothing wrong with being polite, and a lot to be gained by being polite by default. I wasn't brought up that way - my wife was - but it's not hard to appreciate.

Now where are the hot nurse pics so I can visualize what it's like being so saucily called by my first name as she shaves my willy (I can't figure out what procedure requires willy-shaving, but I'll let that slide).

/good morning mike, carol...
//not obscure

I don't like titles and never use mine, even in academic circles, but when I first visit a new physician the first thing I do is check out their shingle and get their first name. Then when they come in and say "Hello Bill, I'm Doctor Wilson" I reply "Hello George, I'm Doctor Tuckeg". From then on, formality is restored.

Almost makes all those years getting the PhD in physics worth it.

Mr. Kessler! Mr. Kessler!

It's a changing world, you old farts. Adapt or die.

tuckeg: I don't like titles and never use mine, even in academic circles, but when I first visit a new physician the first thing I do is check out their shingle and get their first name. Then when they come in and say "Hello Bill, I'm Doctor Wilson" I reply "Hello George, I'm Doctor Tuckeg". From then on, formality is restored.

Almost makes all those years getting the PhD in physics worth it.

Well bully for you!! At least you can pedantically use your degree to create socially awkward situations.

Uh...who has hair on their willy - wouldn't it be more accurate to say "Mr Smith, I've come to shave your beans"?

SecretAgentWoman: Uh...who has hair on their willy - wouldn't it be more accurate to say "Mr Smith, I've come to shave your beans"?

Oh man, i hope this doesn't open the floodgates for a spate of nasty NSFW^TM pics...

Instead of telling the nurses how to adress someone, how about getting them to ask? That way you can adress someone how they want to be adressed and not how you assume they want to be adressed.

WhyteRaven74: Instead of telling the nurses how to adress someone, how about getting them to ask? That way you can adress someone how they want to be adressed and not how you assume they want to be adressed.

Your post would be much more relevant to my interests if you substituted the word "undress" for "address"

When my mother was just starting out as a nurse (late '70s), she wasn't allowed to call them patients or use gloves out of respect. Are we going to have start doing it again to keep from getting sued or some crazy shiat?

SecretAgentWoman: Uh...who has hair on their willy - wouldn't it be more accurate to say "Mr Smith, I've come to shave your beans"?

A botched circumcision can result in willy hair due to the scrotum's skin being pulled up too far.

/I have no idea why I know this

"Mr. Smith, I've come to shave your willy."

trintrin: A botched circumcision can result in willy hair due to the scrotum's skin being pulled up too far.

Now those are two words one never wants to see together: botched and circumcision.

sseye: can't figure out what procedure requires willy-shaving

probably TMI, but: had acute appendicitis when I was 17. Before I went under the knife, they took the time to shave me thoroughly down yonder. It was to make the region easier to disinfect.

Unfortunately, my defoliation was carried out by a large Caribbean dude who was all business, instead of some chavvy hottie. An opportunity to make a masturbatory memory that would've lasted a lifetime, wasted.

/sigh

Ikahoshi: trintrin: A botched circumcision can result in willy hair due to the scrotum's skin being pulled up too far.

Now those are two words one never wants to see together: botched and circumcision.

[shiver] This.

Well I personally think that anyone that gets their panties in a bunch because they are being called by their own name needs to chill. Maybe back in the day it was uncommon to address elders by their first names but this is 2008 and all you old people will be dead soon anyways so get over yourselves

CygnusDarius: "Mr. Smith, I've come to shave your willy."

I came for the pictures of hot nurses and was not disapOHSWEETfarkINGCHRISTTHESIRENS!!!

johnny_vegas: tuckeg: I don't like titles and never use mine, even in academic circles, but when I first visit a new physician the first thing I do is check out their shingle and get their first name. Then when they come in and say "Hello Bill, I'm Doctor Wilson" I reply "Hello George, I'm Doctor Tuckeg". From then on, formality is restored.

Almost makes all those years getting the PhD in physics worth it.

Well bully for you!! At least you can pedantically use your degree to create socially awkward situations.

I'm pretty sure that's what it's for.

Mr. Smith, I've come to shave your willy John Thomas.

FTFY

I think I'd rather have a nurse telling me, in polite terms, what they are about to do.

Think about the alternative.

Nurse Ratchet, the one with the mustache, comes into your room. She's starts stropping a razor, looks at you, and in a gravelly voice says "Drop your drawers, love. I've some trimmin' to do!".

*shudder*

Mr. Smith, I've come to shave your willy John Mr. Thomas.

FTFY

/srsly, though, it's not that hard
//the least a healthcare provider can do is address their pts the way they want to be addressed
///sir, mam, Mr., and Mrs. are good; honey, sweetie, and [first name], not so much
////that's Ms. girljen to you, thankyouverymuch

I'm a Respiratory Therapist, and I instinctively call patients "Mr.", or "Ms." It was one of the easiest parts of the job for me.

However, when Mr. Smith is a seven year-old, it's just a little bit silly. So, is it really respectful when you just automatically do it?

Also: we had one patient who insisted on being called by his nickname, Chief. If you forgot, he went from a genial fellow to a total farking dick.

Mr Smith I've come to shave your willy blue veined custard pump.

Count me with the crowd that turns around to see if my father is somewhere in the room whenever someone addresses "Mr. So-and-so"

There is a benefit to using titles and surnames that goes beyond courtesy. It puts people on their dignity which is a big help at times when maturity and emotional detachment are at a premium, such as when a wounded penis must be approached with a sharp instrument.

It's really the same psychology that you see practiced to perfection by veteran punks. The ones who know how to handle the cops are exhaustingly polite in their address, and everything stays genteel. Folks who are too cool to be decorous tend to end up doing flutter kicks at the end of a taser lead.

"Hi, my name is Gwen, and..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtuJIPegc0&feature=related

(Relevant bit circa 3:45)

WhyteRaven74: Instead of telling the nurses how to adress someone, how about getting them to ask? That way you can adress someone how they want to be adressed and not how you assume they want to be adressed.

FTFA: "The BMA chairman, who is a GP, urged every doctor and nurse to ask patients how they liked to be addressed."

It's the headline that implies forced formal address.

johnny_vegas: tuckeg: I don't like titles and never use mine, even in academic circles, but when I first visit a new physician the first thing I do is check out their shingle and get their first name. Then when they come in and say "Hello Bill, I'm Doctor Wilson" I reply "Hello George, I'm Doctor Tuckeg". From then on, formality is restored.

Almost makes all those years getting the PhD in physics worth it.

Well bully for you!! At least you can pedantically use your degree to create socially awkward situations.


Hi Johnny,

Thanks!

Dr. Tuckeg

All nurses are taught in school (well, at least in American schools, I can't speak for the rest of the world) to ask patients how they would like to be addressed. When meeting patients for the first time you explain who you are, ask what they prefer to be called, then go into your assessment. I have a problem using first names when talking to elderly people, even when they request it. I was always taught to say Mr., Mrs., sir, or ma'am.

"Grease me up woman!"

Need Simpsons pic, stat!

Not one hot nurse picture yet? I'm so disappointed in you folks.



/she's not British, but who cares?
//married to a hot nurse, but not this one

I was raised to address my elders as Mrs., Mr., Sir, Ma'am etc. I work with people who are much older than me (retirees returning to the work force, consultants et al) and find that many of them think I'm being snooty by addressing them in a formal manner. Fark them, they'll get over it. Lifetime habits are hard to change.

ExRedStater
Count me with the crowd that turns around to see if my father is somewhere in the room whenever someone addresses "Mr. So-and-so"


That is a very odd feeling. Still want to look over my shoulder for my dad whenever someone addresses me as Mr. I keep thinking I just got caught doing something bad. I should be over it, my poor old dad has been gone for sometime.

I've always been conflicted about asking first. It seems like a good idea, but puts the person in the awkward position of asking for formality.

I mean the question really is "Are you going to be an old fart about this or can I use your first name?"
I've always been taught that you use Mr., Mrs., Miss., Ms. etc. first and then wait for them to say "call me Bill."

/clearly if you're using Mrs., they probably won't say "call me Bill."

wsommerv: /clearly if you're using Mrs., they probably won't say "call me Bill."

I take it you're not from San Francisco.

mike965: Well I personally think that anyone that gets their panties in a bunch because they are being called by their own name needs to chill. Maybe back in the day it was uncommon to address elders by their first names but this is 2008 and all you old people will be dead soon anyways so get over yourselves

Don't be such an ass! You're probably one who protests loudly when you perceive disrespect. Just being courteous is costless and makes interactions with others more pleasant.

it's not so much using the first name as the "love" or "dear" nomenclature. How dare these nurses call my dying parent "dearie"!

I also heard "pet", but just once.

tuckeg: I don't like titles and never use mine, even in academic circles, but when I first visit a new physician the first thing I do is check out their shingle and get their first name. Then when they come in and say "Hello Bill, I'm Doctor Wilson" I reply "Hello George, I'm Doctor Tuckeg". From then on, formality is restored.

Almost makes all those years getting the PhD in physics worth it.

"Doctor."
"Doctor."
"Doctor."
"Doctor." (new window)