Hey Buddy, Papi, Champ, Pal!

Sasha

Sasha

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In my EMT book, we were told specifically to use "Mr. Last name" "Mrs./Miss Last Name" "Sir" and "Ma'am" and children's first names, as introduced to you. Not Stevie instead of Stephen

I've noticed a lot of people using things like "Mama" "Buddy" "Scout" "Champ" "Dave" (Etc.) "Mary" (Etc.) "Sweetie" "Hun" "Dear" "Papi"

What do you use?
 
You know, thinking about it, I rarely use a patient's name or a placeholder. When I'm addressing my patient I'm generally looking straight at them to communicate that I'm talking to them instead of using a name.
 
I once worked with a Hispanic (I think Puerto Rican) partner that used Papi... haven't heard that since.

One of my classmates and co-workers uses "honey" for any woman, espicially senior citizens. I don't like it... it annoys me.

I use Ma'am and Sir when I don't know the name off the top of my head. I occasionally use "buddy" for a young kid... and I work with a medic that calls everyone "Fella".
 
I work for a paid on call department in a very small town (pop. ~2500). This also happens to be the town in which I grew up so I know quite a few people, people who I've known my whole life. Most of the elderly residents (or anyone else for that matter) I pretty much know ahead of time what is appropriate/how they are expecting me to address them - Mrs. Smith, Harold, Ricky, etc.

When I come upon a patient whom I don't know, the first thing I do is introduce myself "Hi, my name is Dave and I'm an EMT here in town.....and you are?"

How they introduce themselves to me is how a refer to them.
 
Jon said:
I once worked with a Hispanic (I think Puerto Rican) partner that used Papi... haven't heard that since.

One of my classmates and co-workers uses "honey" for any woman, espicially senior citizens. I don't like it... it annoys me.

I use Ma'am and Sir when I don't know the name off the top of my head. I occasionally use "buddy" for a young kid... and I work with a medic that calls everyone "Fella".
Click to expand...

I worked with a 52 year old paramedic who was not of hispanic or latina descent, and refered to everyone, white, hispanic, black, or otherwise as "Mama" or "Papi"
 
I use sir or ma'am, sometimes the first name or Mr/Mrs---------------
Occasionally i will use the vernacular of which the Pt is most familiar with.
 
Failure to properly communicate to a patient is by far one of the most prolific examples of poor patient care that I constantly run into in my travels. I can't tell you how many times I see crews barge into a home and start questioning an ANOx4 patient and never even introduce their names or even bother to ask the patient theirs.

One would be surprised how the level of anxiety on a patient drops once some basic introductions are generated during the first few minutes of seeing the patient. And calling a patient "mama", "buddy", etc. Just drop that urban / cowboy EMS crap and show that you are a professional. UGH!!
 
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karaya said:
Failure to properly communicate to a patient is by far one of the most prolific examples of poor patient care that I constantly run into in my travels. I can't tell you how many times I see crews barge into a home and start questioning an ANOx4 patient and never even introduce their names or even bother to ask the patient theirs.

One would be surprised how the level of anxiety on a patient drops once some basic introductions are generated during the first few minutes of seeing the patient. And calling a patient "mama", "buddy", etc. Just drop that urban / cowboy EMS crap and show that you are a professional. UGH!!
Click to expand...

This poster nailed it!!
 
Our instructors have told us they better not EVER hear anything similar to "honey, sweetie, etc" come out of our mouths. We're to use "Mr. or Mrs. So and So".....or first names for children. Anything else requires us to duck in order to dodge whatever object has just been lobbed our way :D
 
Having been raised in the south, I'm the gentleman and generally stick with either the Pt name, or Ma'am/Sir as appropriate. We do have a few of our regulars that we are on a first name basis with.
 
I always use Mr or Mrs and the last name unless its someone I know, which it very often is.

When talking to a pt who is unresponsive and I am testing their alertness to verbal, I alway use the first name because it is the name the pt is most likely going to respond to.

I hate the buddy, guy, hey you, honey, sweetie, dearie crap! I find it offensive when people use it on me and I don't use it unless my relationship with the pt outside of the call warrants that level of intimacy.
 
I have the misfortune of being called "buddy" fairly often. Having finally learned to deal with it without saying something snarky, I can't imagine inflicting it or any of the other condescending nicknames on a patient.

On the other hand, like JPINFV, I don't often address my patients by name except initially and when I need to get their attention.
 
I try to always use Mr/Mrs/Ms, sir/ma'am, or a first name (if that is how the patient introduces themselves). I must admit though, that I have been guilty of using hon, sweetie, or buddy at one time or another. I do try to pay close attention to not doing it, and am usually able to catch myself before it slips out.
 
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