How should a nurse address a doctor?

It certainly seems that everyone calls each other by their first names these days. This seems to have been perpetuated by the email where formality seems pretty taboo. Even people you neither know nor want to know address you by your first name. There is a great risk in this approach, as what is listed as your name on your email address is not necessarily what you wish to be called by.

 

Life was so much simpler in the good (or bad old days). As young nurses we were in awe of the more senior nurses, particularly the ward sister and nursing officer (as the matrons had turned into) and of course the doctors. Sometimes the junior doctors and staff nurses addressed each other more informally, but then there was always the possibility they were sleeping together (but then that is a whole different topic for another time).

 

As a more senior nurse I generally conversed with my doctor colleagues on first name terms, but in front of patients I always preferred to be more formal. So what do you think?

Nursing voices is a forum for nurses all over the world, where people can get together to discuss topics that are important and interesting to them. Why do you tell us what you think?

Do you call the docs you work with by their first names?