to think that calling nurses by their first names but using only surnames for doctors shows doctors are more respected in my local surgery?

[sallyjaygorce]

I was at the surgery this morning and noticed on the room allocation board that all the doctors are Dr Smith, Dr Brown etc but all nurses are Sister Vicky, Sister Valerie etc Why the difference?

I wouldn't care what they called themselves as long as I could get an appointment easily and they were half decent at their job.

All our nurses use their first names with patients. We all also call the doctors by their first names EXCEPT in front of the patients where it's Dr X and Y. I think this is because there is a fundamental difference in the relationship with the patient. The doctors do have to keep a professional distance - I think it's a bit about authority - we need our patients to do as they are advised - and a lot about trust. It's hard to explain but I think our patients would struggle to take a diagnosis from 'Dennis' where they accept it with confidence from 'Dr A'. Equally they trust the nurses because they are on first name terms - so it's a weird thing that's there is no easy answer too.

However i am quite sure the work your practice nurses do is very much respected by their doctor colleagues!

nurses are sister surname at y surgery! perhaps you are just extra informal where you are!

Yes - I think they are respected in their work. I think Northernlurker's explanation makes sense. They do play different roles. I have noticed that friends dealing with long term illness sometimes have doctors they are on first name terms with. A friend being treated for cancer at the Royal Marsden called his consultant by his frist name. I think they wanted an informal feel - which worked well in those particular circumstances.

I have called a couple of doctors by their first names.

But then I call teachers by their first names too. :informal:

I'm a cancer patient - all doctors and nurses in the unit,and most consultants are first names. All very informal and friendly, they're also very happy to give you a hug if you need one

Kurri Kurri - sounds like you have a great team with you. SIL has a brain tumor and her consultant and nursing staff are quite distant - not at all good for her morale - she is always upset by their attitude. She's certainly never had a hug - shaking hands is about it - DH goes to a lot of her meetings and is always pissed off by the lack of humanity. Very different to the Marsden team who cared for my friend - they were fantastic - full of life, humour and kindness. I've been doing some work with a friend who is involved with Maggie's Centres - they have a lot to teach some medics. Glad you get a hug when you need one.

Feeling cared for and cared about, is so important to your well being I think. You have to put such faith in the medical profession. My team are lovely, can't fault them. Sorry your SIL is having problems with hers

Yeah - luckily she has a strong network of lovely friends and carers at home - plus a loving husband and two great sons. She gets lots of hugs from my kids too. I arranged a second opinion meeting with a guy at the Marsden and she said he was so different - very professional but sympathetic and spoke to her as a person rather than a series of symptoms - she said he gave her the will to be more assertive and less offended by the consultant she usually sees. Take care.

At our surgery, we have Dr Surnames and Nurse First Name Surnames, so I'm never sure if I am on first name terms with the nurses or not. I normally just call them 'Hellohowareyou'. It seems to work for us all!

Northernlurker I think you are spot on. My gynae consultant is an old friend of the family, have been on first name terms for years and years, but I just could not bring myself to refer to him as Firstname when he examined me in his clinic!! It was Mr Surname all the way.