being called mum by nurses in hospital

[thecatsarecrazy]

I know its only a small thing and its probably because I've been here to long but the nurses calling me "mum" I'm not your mum, would it be so hard to learn my name? Has this annoyed anyone else?

Health professionals are paid to remember technical stuff, not our names. Our brain has limits.

OP - hope you find out whats wrong with your little boy soon.
and that it can be sorted soon :)

YANBU it's irritating. You're not being ungrateful for the care you're child is receiving by acknowledging that. Hope things get better

..In answer to your original question, no, i dont really think it would bother me.

The only time it annoyed me was in reports, mum says, mum says, mums says. I thought what was the point of all the paperwork I sent in that details everything I recapped for them, which is from other professionals if your report is going to sound like it is all hersay from me!

We were in Bristol PICU for a month, and so often had the same staff, I honestly can't remember what they called me, but i did discover they have over 200 staff to cover the 24hr nursing. The thing i found the most confusing was the use of lush, which i had never heard before. Sort of miss it .

It's a thing, there's been research on how to address patients. I suppose majority of people like 'mum' but it would bug me too. Have you heard of the #hellomynameis campaign? It was started by a dr who was also a cancer patient, who observed that staff tended not to introduce themselves. She felt that introductions and how we address each other are part of the step in building relationships and providing patient centered care. Many health professionals have signed up to this campaign. So actually, how you are referred to is important. They're prob trying to be nice but you would be totally legit to ask them if they'd mind calling you by (whatever form of address you prefer) and explain it makes you feel a bit weird to be 'mum'.

I'd rather be called mum and them look after my baby in the excellent way they did last weekend rather then worry what my name is. It really doesn't matter to me, all I cared for was that my little one would be ok. The team were fabulous they could have called me whatever the heck they wanted.

I take it all of you that have are offended with being called mum learn all the staff's names off by heart because I bet being called 'Nurse' or Doctor' all shift long gets a bit irritating. Also people still quite often make presumptions about what role a member of staff is and often get it wrong, for example calling a variety of HCPs 'nurse' as a generic term when actually they are HCAs, Doctors, physios, midwives etc - possibly because they are female and still have an outdated view in their heads tha a female HCP or somebody who works on a ward is a nurse. I admit often it isn't very clear but I've found most HCPs do introduce themselves.
And to those who say Dads aren't referred to as Dad - that simply isn't true.

Beautiful little boy ,CAT .
I can understand the need for lightheartedness ATM , I hope they find out what's wrong with your little man.

Absolutely YANBU OP. It's so patronizing.

Hope your child is better soon xx

I hated it and found it patronising. Even if they put a the/his/her mum before it would have made me feel more like an actual pronoun person.

YANBU. As a nurse I cringe when I hear nurses call the parents of children Mum/Dad. I work with adult patients, I never call their relatives Son/Daughter/Husband/Wife/friend etc. It's rude and impersonal, a generalisation that gives the impression that you can't be bothered with them as an individual.

Yeah I find it annoying. Teachers do this all the time when they are discussing parents of pupils. They say "does mum work?" "Is mum around?" Etc. Does my head in! Why can't they say 'his mum' or 'her mum' or 'sally's mum'!???

If they are helping take care of my child they can call me smartybollockswankypants for all I care!

I take it all of you that have are offended with being called mum learn all the staff's names off by heart because I bet being called 'Nurse' or Doctor' all shift long gets a bit irritating.

If their name isn't immediately obvious, I either ask what they'd like to be called (if we're having a conversation/discussion) or say 'excuse me' (if I'm trying to get their attention). If greeting, I say 'hi, how are you?' I feel no need to append 'doctor' or 'nurse' to this in the manner of some HCPs who will breeze in and say 'Morning DC, morning mum, now mum, how did DC sleep? And while I've got you, mum, can you just sign this form? Thanks mum.'

It is truly bizarre. Most social interactions, including in a medical context, don't need names to be used.

What do HCPs call the immediate families of patients who aren't the parent of the patient when they need to speak to them?

Interestingly, DH reports he hardly ever gets called 'dad' by HCPs but has noticed the 'mumming'.

My little grandaughter was in hospital recently and my DD said exactly the same!! They put your child's name on the board outside the room - it would probs make their job a lot easier if they put mum and dads name too . I hope your little boy is better soon, it's a very unreal existence on a ward and time seems to stand still. And things happen with slow frustrating speed. Look after you too

I think op did this post as a joke, probably to lighten her load for a few minutes and to maybe have someone to chat to. I have been in that situation and sometimes you just need to focus on something else for a few minutes. She must be beside herself with worry, especially when it seems the doctors are not doing much to help, they will be helping though but that doesn't make things easier. As many of you will know having a very sick child is one of the scariest things in the world. I don't think she was doing any harm and I hope things turn out very well for her.

I have an atrocious memory for names - the name is already forgotten the second I am told it. I've even momentarily forgotten the names of lifelong friends (ie when I actually need to use them, eg to introduce them to someone else). As such, I have 100% sympathy for anyone calling a mother, "mum." I got so far, recently, as remembering a work colleague's name began with a particular letter, and narrowed the name down to one of three options. Each evening, I would write their name out several times to try and memorise it and by morning, I wasn't sure again as to which of the three options it was. It took three weeks to be confident I had remembered the correct name. I have no trouble remembering anything else, just people's names...

So glad Tristan is better. He is adorable.

Were you in The Childrens hospital, or St Michaels?

Being called Mum is irritating, but not the top of their list of priorities.

I inherited a genetic disorder from my dad, and from about 10yo to 25 we had the same (primarily paeds) nurse in the very small department. When he went in alone she knew his name, but as soon as I was there too he was daddy, graduating to dad when I turned 18 and left home. We'd often go in for consecutive appointments (and a cup of tea...) and right up until I moved hospitals at 25 she called him dad.

It never bothered either of us. When I was little it felt like I was included in every conversations, and as I got older it just stayed a 'thing'. Dad loved it, I lived full time with my mum so he liked having someone acknowledge that he was still important in my life - though obviously thats a very specific situation.

OP, I hope your Tristan is better very soon.

I don't like it. I'd rather be called Mrs Writermom22

Abbey that made me laugh!

I get called Mum by my PILs , now that's annoying!

sorry to hear about your child. hope they find out quickly what is wrong.