Calling residents affectionate names?

I work in a LTC/ Skilled nursing facility, and i would like to hear some opinions about calling long-term residents "sweetie", "honey" or "hun", etc. This is the persons home, and calling them Mrs. or Mr. is textbook and so formal. Of course, i would ask "is it alright if i call you sweetie? or do you prefer Mr. or Mrs." because i customize my care to whatever they would desire.

So whats your opinions on this? (Keep in mind also that i live in the south-ish, FL, were this is common etiquette) :heartbeat i do find it to be inappropriate in acute care settings, because i don't know the person well

:redlight:I AM ONLY REFERRING TO LONG TERM CARE PATIENTS. thank you:redlight: Last edit by LPNweezy on Apr 1, '11
in my setting, a resident is a new doctor, but I have one that I call "Justina" - his name is justin. Haa! Sometimes it's Teenie, which isn't so flattering... but funny. Cute pet names. Probably, technically, inappropriate, but I don't believe in P.C.

I don't care for the practice.

Quote from MassEDin my setting, a resident is a new doctor, but I have one that I call "Justina" - his name is justin. Haa! Sometimes it's Teenie, which isn't so flattering... but funny. Cute pet names. Probably, technically, inappropriate, but I don't believe in P.C.

I find it repulsive and unprofessional. We all have names use them to address some one I find it offensive when called "sweetie" "hon" etc...and so should everyone who considers themselves professionals.,

Quote from mrinccI find it repulsive and unprofessional. We all have names use them to address some one I find it offensive when called "sweetie" "hon" etc...and so should everyone who considers themselves professionals.,

I work in peds and we call the parents Mom and Dad. It's one less name to have to remember.

Quote from LPNweezyDo you live in the north? what area do you work in? I'd love to hear your opinion on this! thanks!

No, it's just not right. I call patients by their proper first name.

Do you think that its accepted for female nurses to do, but strange if a male nurse does it?

Quote from ScottENo, it's just not right. I call patients by their proper first name.

I call people by their names. But I was at a LTC a while back, where some of the CNAs lovingly called the LOLs and LOMs "grandma" and "grandpa" I could see that this was more than accepted by those residents, and watching them interact this way almost made me tear up.

Depends - used to have a resident who insisted that everybody call her by her nickname, and if you didn't she'd been known to slap you! I'd rather call somebody whatever they want than get slapped because I think their choice is "inappropriate"Also, for staff that's worked there for years and years and years who know these people as well or better than their own families do...somehow, a term of affection or endearment doesn't seem unprofessional to me. I also don't think that anybody's going to be saying "Just a minute hon', we're rolling you into the ambulance now." in an emergency! Professionalism has degrees, and using your own best judgement for the situation should be a fairly solid rule of thumb for most sensible professionals.