anybody else tired of being called a nurse?

[superspec]

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If I would have Dr. Reye'd him, I'm assuming that means I would have worn a suit so abrasive and offensive that his comment was ignored under the omnipotence of my outfit.

All jokes aside, I don't believe in tolerating sexist/racist/whatever-ist comments, regardless of age. There is a right and a wrong way to handle things, and I think the attending corrected him in a fairly tongue-in-cheek way.

You are never too old to learn....

 

[Leukocyte]

If I would have Dr. Reye'd him, I'm assuming that means I would have worn a suit so abrasive and offensive that his comment was ignored under the omnipotence of my outfit.

Actually I was refering to his "rambo moment" with the elderly frail man...

I do agree with you though...It was naive to assume that ALL females in medicine are nurses.

 

[smkoepke]

this is my biggest pet peeve in life. i have lost count the number of times i have gotten that response. the first couple of times, i got confused, then i started to get annoyed, and now, unfortunately for the niave questioner, i get mildly irate. ok maybe its not possible to get midly irate. lets just say i get mad. and i usually end up saying something snotty (i try not to, but it inevitably comes out that way) such as, "I said medical school, not nursing school", in a tone that implies i meant to say "duh, what are you, a total *****??" i feel bad, but they dont understand that i've already had 50 people say the same stupid thing to me. again, nothing against nurses, but im not working this hard for people not to get what MEDICAL SCHOOL means.

on a side note, maybe its not their fault. there used to be a huge billboard in erie right next to the hospital that said "Want to go to one of the best medical schools in the country?". the first time i saw it, i did a double take, thinking it was about my school (which i love, but is definitely not the best medical school in the country). even worse, the billboard was actually for the technical school, where you could get you certificate in medical assistance! since when is that medical school?? no wonder the general public is confused.

These medical assisting schools are guilty of false advertising. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a commercial insinuating that their graduates are the physician assistant. Now technically these folks may be "assisting" the physician, but it certainly is implying a far higher station. These same schools imply that you too can "work as a nurse" in just 9 months! These people really think they will be "nurses" or "physician assistants" when they complete their program. Completely inappropriate.

 

[NonTradMed]

These medical assisting schools are guilty of false advertising. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a commercial insinuating that their graduates are the physician assistant. Now technically these folks may be "assisting" the physician, but it certainly is implying a far higher station. These same schools imply that you too can "work as a nurse" in just 9 months! These people really think they will be "nurses" or "physician assistants" when they complete their program. Completely inappropriate.

Is that legal to advertise as a medical or nursing program when it's not? I thought in order to say you are a medical school, you have to actually be graduating doctors, ditto for nursing school.

 

[gunit07]

i had a patient i was following for about a week and one morning she asked me for pain meds. so i said i'd tell her nurse to get them. and she said "you mean you're not my nurse???? who are you???" sigh...


i've gotten so sick of people assuming that med school for girls = nursing. definitely one of my pet peeves. especially since we do totally diffrerent things. what kind of nurse comes by at 430AM asks you i've you've passed gas, then scurries off and stops by later that day, only to ask you if you've passed gas yet? do patients know what nurses even do??


but then once in a while you get the patient who refuses to call you by your first name and only calls you dr. ____ even though you've explained to them that you are not a doctor yet and they dont have to call you that. that's kind of nice🙂 rare... but does happen once in a while🙂


oh, and i loved this one - i was seeing a patient in clinic, introduced myself, said i was a medical student working with dr. soandso... and the pt goes "wait a minute - you're gonna be a doctor?!? .... but you're so small!!" i think he was slightly demented😛

 

[smkoepke]

Is that legal to advertise as a medical or nursing program when it's not? I thought in order to say you are a medical school, you have to actually be graduating doctors, ditto for nursing school.

I would imagine the way they get away with is in the wording. They call it medical assistant school but say you can "work as a nurse". Some focus in on the physician assisting part, and while they technically may be doing this, it makes it confusing for people who then go to the hospital or clinic to see "the doctor" and a PA comes out. Whose going to want a PA treating them when they think it is the same thing as the medical assisting 9 month certificate? Back on topic with the OP's frustrations, you are a physician and you should have no qualms about correcting people when they call you a nurse. It is the goal you chose, worked hard for and achieved. There is a vast difference in the education of a physician and a nurse. (I say this as a nursing student), It is annoying to the RN's and students when everybody and their brother tells you they are a "nurse" or took the same "classes" etc...

 

[Winged Scapula]

It is annoying to the RN's and students when everybody and their brother tells you they are a "nurse" or took the same "classes" etc...

Interesting...I had always imagined it was. I cannot tell you how many family members of patients introduce themselves as nurses, or how many patients tell me their "daughter/niece/aunt/cousin is a nurse" when it is patently obvious that this person knows very little about nursing and medicine in general. I had almost started assuming that when someone says they are a nurse, they mean nursing assistant or patient aide...at least until proven otherwise.

It seems offensive that they would assume the title of nurse without the requisite education and training.

 

[OB/Gyn Kenobi]

I have a 4'11" female friend who is an intern. One of her patients asked the attending who the little girl was who kept coming in his room every morning.

 

[Atrophied]

"you mean you're not my nurse???? who are you???" sigh...
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i've gotten so sick of people assuming that med school for girls = nursing.
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"wait a minute - you're gonna be a doctor?!? .... but you're so small!!" i think he was slightly demented😛

you are definately right med school for girls=nursing school. I've actually started saying "student doctor working with dr. So-and-so" instead of medical student..and I figure if nursing students say student nurse, then i can say student doctor.

Do you ever get the "You're gonna be a doctor? but, you're so cute..."
I guess you have to be sleepy, ugly, cranky and dishelved to gain any respect as a female physician.

 

[Brooklyndo2.1]

or you can tell em, im gonna be the one inserting the needle into your back for the LP
so if you feel any discomfort, say, "Doctor, that hurts"

 

[t33sg1rl]

Same thing happens to me. I've even had people ask what I do (like at my daughter's school) and I reply, "I'm a medical student." I've had more people then ask, "So, are you studying to be a nurse?"

OK, I think we've established that this happens to everyone, and that some of us find it really annoying. Personally I don't mind it-I know that a lot of laypeople really aren't sure what medical school is. "Nursing school" is pretty clear, but "medical" isn't. When asked the nurse question, I just say, "No, a doctor." It's what happens next that really pisses me off... namely what I call the Student Doctor Triad: speechlessness, eyes popping out of head, jaw on floor. I can forgive the average store clerk not knowing the ins and outs of different types of medical training-what I can't forgive is their utter shock and disbelief that I could be a doctor. Maybe I have BIMBO tattooed on my forehead and I've just never noticed?

Anyway if anyone can think of something good to say during the period when the sexist ***** hasn't yet found their words again, I'm on the lookout for a good response!

 

[Hurricane]

Anyway if anyone can think of something good to say during the period when the sexist ***** hasn't yet found their words again, I'm on the lookout for a good response!

"OK, now turn your head and cough?"

 

[LovelyRita]

you are definately right med school for girls=nursing school. I've actually started saying "student doctor working with dr. So-and-so" instead of medical student..and I figure if nursing students say student nurse, then i can say student doctor.

Do you ever get the "You're gonna be a doctor? but, you're so cute..."
I guess you have to be sleepy, ugly, cranky and dishelved to gain any respect as a female physician.

I went to the ED the other day to admit a 73 year-old lady with a GI bleed and I introduced myself. She smiled and was pleasant and was like "wow! you look so YOUNG!" and so I laughed a little and said thank-you. Proceeded to do the hx then the PE and she sat up on the edge of the bed as I was examining her and she again is like "I just can't get over how young and pretty you are!" She was so sweet. Fact is, I'm about 5+ years older than most of my colleagues...

Anyway, I think sometimes the last time these patients went to a doctor might have been 10, 20, 30 years ago when it was some ugly old dude who was their doctor. And I guess I'm starting to see the importance of med students using the hokey title "Student Doctor" because the consensus is that medical school could be anything especially if you are a female.

Also, I'm sure there are not a lot of nurses out there that get mistaken for doctors... 🙂

 

[doctawife]

Maybe I have BIMBO tattooed on my forehead and I've just never noticed?

Possibly the greatest quote on SDN ever.

Anyway if anyone can think of something good to say during the period when the sexist ***** hasn't yet found their words again, I'm on the lookout for a good response!

I usually say something along the lines of, "I've been a doctor for about three years - I'm almost finished with residency. Do you need anything from the nurse? I can pass on the message for you."

 

[Ramoray]

I went to the ED the other day to admit a 73 year-old lady with a GI bleed and I introduced myself. She smiled and was pleasant and was like "wow! you look so YOUNG!" and so I laughed a little and said thank-you. Proceeded to do the hx then the PE and she sat up on the edge of the bed as I was examining her and she again is like "I just can't get over how young and pretty you are!" She was so sweet. Fact is, I'm about 5+ years older than most of my colleagues...

Anyway, I think sometimes the last time these patients went to a doctor might have been 10, 20, 30 years ago when it was some ugly old dude who was their doctor. And I guess I'm starting to see the importance of med students using the hokey title "Student Doctor" because the consensus is that medical school could be anything especially if you are a female.

Also, I'm sure there are not a lot of nurses out there that get mistaken for doctors... 🙂

Ya maybe young and pretty to a blind 70plus year old woman-lets be honest-you are a doctor-it is almost assured that you are fuglier than fugly-why toot your own horn on a message board. Give me a break-I am sure you look like crap and you are trying to fluff yourself up lady

 

[outofhere]

This is not quite the same, but...

The other day, I call a patient's PCP in another state, long story... Anyway, I introduce myself as Dr. so and so, we talk about the patient, blah, blah, blah. Then this MD asks me, "so you're the med student or the resident taking care of this patient?" I tell him that I am the attending for this patient. He says, "you sound young." Seriously, how long is 'you look young,' 'you sound young,' going to follow me? Some nurses have said that I look about 15 when I show up to round on weekends wearing glasses... At least no one has said, "does your mommy know you're here?"

 

[Leukocyte]

This is not quite the same, but...

The other day, I call a patient's PCP in another state, long story... Anyway, I introduce myself as Dr. so and so, we talk about the patient, blah, blah, blah. Then this MD asks me, "so you're the med student or the resident taking care of this patient?" I tell him that I am the attending for this patient. He says, "you sound young." Seriously, how long is 'you look young,' 'you sound young,' going to follow me? Some nurses have said that I look about 15 when I show up to round on weekends wearing glasses... At least no one has said, "does your mommy know you're here?"

Correct me if I am wrong...but I thought women LOVE to hear the "oh but, you look so young" line.😕...just like men like to hear the "oh, have you been working out?" line

 

[dpmd]

When people tell me I look too young it just reminds me that some people aren't going to take me seriously because I look like I am about 15 years old. I probably won't mind looking good for my age in about 20 years or so, but it's different right now. Plus it gets old when you have been hearing it for over 10 years.

 

[Llenroc]

Why are you ladies so upset when patients confuse you for being a nurse? Shouldn't you be flattered? We all know nurses are a lot cuter than women doctors are.

Although I think they should put the whole lot of you to work in the hospital cafeterias where your skills would be most useful.

 

[EmerNurse]

I get called Doctor all the time in my ER.. I certainly tell the lol and lom no no, I'm the nurse, the doctor will be here shortly. Then (cause 50% of ER docs are female) they're still confused! And our docs DO wear the white coats while the nurses don't, so go figure. I think they just want me to go order them dilaudid.

As for the young thing... you all look so young cause WE'RE all getting old, that's all. I saw a new batch of female med students last year and I remember thinking how young they looked! Then I realized they were the age of my grandson's mother and it made depressing sense. It all comes around in the end. Wait'll you're not the young one anymore! 😀

 

[Tigger14]

One of our nurses saw me at the gym, but did not recognize me, and asked how I was allowed in. The minimum age is 18, and I am a chief surgery resident. I am flattered. Patients rarely comment, but when they do, it does not bother me. I think acting professionally means a lot more than looking like a kid in high school, and my patients seem to think so too.

One patient asked me if my attending looked as young as I do, and was not surprised (since I had warned him) that yes, indeed that attending ALSO looks like he could be in college. 😀

Regarding the nurse comments, I agree with this...

I usually say something along the lines of, "I've been a doctor for about three years - I'm almost finished with residency. Do you need anything from the nurse? I can pass on the message for you."

 

[butterfly0660]

I used to get offended by the whole "you're gonna be a nurse?" thing, but I have gotten so used to it, that it doesn't even phase me anymore...the one that irritates me even more is "Oh, what are you going to be?" I have found that half of the people mean "What kind of doctor", while others mean, "nurse, xray tech, etc". No matter how I choose to answer it, people are always confused....if I say, "a surgeon" that second group just thinks I am insane!

 

[fang]

I'm not sure why, but like it when those old vets call me "sweetheart"-- it's kind of cute. I keep correcting them about the nursing thing though.

 

[chafemeister]

Many times on airplanes I am confused for a nurse with the occupation: "medical student," but I rarely correct them because they often have something interesting to share with me- either a spouse's experience as a nurse or their experiences... Its an honest if narrow-minded mistake, and I find it unproductive to be rude about it. Once a retired nurse was so very embarrassed she had mistaken me for a nurse and talked about nursing protocol the whole flight, I felt badly about eventually correcting her.
The lewd looks at the VA, however...

 

[LHCF]

I like the line about "making patient's NPO and d/cing all pain meds". Hilarious!

 

[DeLaughterDO]

Hell, think it's bad at the hospital? I get offers for nursing jobs in my mail AT HOME!!

Of course, I was a nurse before I went back for nursing school, so maybe my case is different.

I don't really have the problem at work, though.

 

[eastcoastyall]

Has is struck anyone else that the whole purpose of this thread, that ya'll don't like being called nurses, is because you think that you are above that? This thread is the most arrogant I have read in a while.

Personally, it doesn't bother me a bit, and I get called a nurse all the time.

(ah, I couldn't help myself)

 

[Doc Ivy]

Do you ever get the "You're gonna be a doctor? but, you're so cute..."
I guess you have to be sleepy, ugly, cranky and dishelved to gain any respect as a female physician.

I got this just last week. I was at Walgreen's and ran into a patient that I had taken care of in the ER the night before. As she was ringing up my stuff she happened to mention to the girl at the next till that I was the ER "doc" that had fixed her up-- and the guy was like "her?? She's too cute to be a doctor"😱

I guess you take your compliments where you can🙄

 

[DeLaughterDO]

Has is struck anyone else that the whole purpose of this thread, that ya'll don't like being called nurses, is because you think that you are above that? This thread is the most arrogant I have read in a while.

Personally, it doesn't bother me a bit, and I get called a nurse all the time.

(ah, I couldn't help myself)

No, not that anyone minds being called "nurse" - if you'd actually read the thread (haha, I rhymed), many people have said they don't mind.

It is actually frustration with the STEREOTYPE that any woman in the hospital, whether janitor, CNA, secretary, nurse, med student, nursing student, RT, PT, OT, cafeteria worker, or physician is a "nurse" to many patients.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Noone is trying to start anti-nurse flame wars here, so cool your tail-feathers.

and like I said - I was a nurse before I went back to school 😎

 

[mesoderm]

I wonder if a person who says that they're in law school gets mistaken for a paralegal student? Or if the student in business school gets mistaken for a secretarial student rather than a person going for an MBA? Or someone in the police academy, a security guard? I have heard the "medical school--nurse" thing before too, what's up with that?

 

[motmas]

I sometimes get irritated when this happens, but this has rarely happened to me (possibly three time in 4 years, and never from a patient). I just remind myself that people are not doing this maliciously, and they can't help that they don't realize that medical school is not nursing school (...is not medical assistant school, etc. Pick your foil.) Seriously, the whole path through professional school is kind of confusing.

As a female M4 soon to be M.D., I can understand why women in medicine are frustrated because it undermines the amount of work and investment I put in my education. Nurses are great - I think that they're an integral part of the healthcare team. But, when it comes to think about the years of training and education required to get to that short white coat compared to being a nurse - I can understand why some of us get irritated being confused with nurses.

Oh, and let us not forget when people ask if being in residency is like ER or Grey's Anatomy. In some way it's more annoying than the nursing comment because apparently people think we all have these exciting social lives where everyone is sleeping with each other while seeing multiple patients with fascinating pathologies, in addition to working 80h/wk and studying when we can. Maybe all of you have those exciting lives - I know I don't.

Or, how about the misconception that once you finish medical school, you make craploads of money. So, once I explain what goes into getting into medical school, then I have to explain what goes into residency training. Most people get a clue and are generally surprised at the $43k intern salary for essentially the equivalent of two full time jobs, but it's weird how many people think I'll be pulling in 6 figures as an intern.

In the end, I just have to take the time to explain things patiently. If someone chooses not to listen or understand, then I can't say I didn't try to teach them something. They're still stuck with me as their provider, and it's my responsibility to provide the best possible care for them regardless of what they think my role is.

I know, I'm still an idealistic medical student...I can still hide my cynicism for now.

 

[flykid]

Even before I started medical school I worked gathering financial and demographic info before the doctor would come into the ER room. I dressed in a nice attire but no coat and what got me the most was that after getting their financial information and how they were going to pay they would still believe I was the doc. Wow, it just shows how much we are an insurance ran community of docs.

 

[double elle]

I simply tell patients that I am not a nurse (while my finger is up their bottom). "I am actually the cafeteria lady who serves up the soup, but I did stay at a Holliday Inn Express last night."

Seriously - usually doesn't bother me, but it pisses me off when it's in front of my attending.

Was at a major conference in february and was walking around the expo trying to get information for products for our critical care unit. The members of my group decided to divide and conquer so we all split up the vendors and set out to get info, pens, candy, etc... Anyway...THREE times I was asked about nursing....Once, I was told how nice it was to have nurses so interested in critical care...then, I was asked to provide the name of my nursing director so information about using the product could be mailed the my hospital...LAST (not about nursing...but, I can't bring my self to call it what it really is...) I was asked by a vendor if my husband was taking advantage of all the sessions and how I was entertaining myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was at one booth where the vendor (a man) let me stand there fingering the product and didn't even speak to me. (We were the only 2 at the table for about 30 seconds). He just kept looking at me. I had my DR badge on and everything. Then, a short weasily man walked up and it's all "hi dr, how can I help you today?"...to the guy. Too bad...I didn't pick up any info on his product after that. (not nursing related, but same idea.....the WOMEN vendors at this expo would look down and try to avoid eye contact with me as I walked around. guess they realized they couldn't flirt with me...🙄 )

Back to the nursing thing...I try not to put too much into being called a nurse by the old people. My grandma has told my entire hometown that I am a plastic surgeon because I mentioned one day (my first year of medical school) that I thought it would be cool. I've tried to educate her, but she simply doesn't understand the whole process.

I like it when I go see if a patient is ready for discharge and they tell me they are very ready but are waiting for a doctor to come let them go. I'll say - well, I am one of your doctors...they perk right up and start taking these big deep breaths to show how well they're breathing and begin telling me about the big BM they had.

 

[froggiepremed]

I simply tell patients that I am not a nurse (while my finger is up their bottom). "I am actually the cafeteria lady who serves up the soup, but I did stay at a Holliday Inn Express last night."

Seriously - usually doesn't bother me, but it pisses me off when it's in front of my attending.

Was at a major conference in february and was walking around the expo trying to get information for products for our critical care unit. The members of my group decided to divide and conquer so we all split up the vendors and set out to get info, pens, candy, etc... Anyway...THREE times I was asked about nursing....Once, I was told how nice it was to have nurses so interested in critical care...then, I was asked to provide the name of my nursing director so information about using the product could be mailed the my hospital...LAST (not about nursing...but, I can't bring my self to call it what it really is...) I was asked by a vendor if my husband was taking advantage of all the sessions and how I was entertaining myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was at one booth where the vendor (a man) let me stand there fingering the product and didn't even speak to me. (We were the only 2 at the table for about 30 seconds). He just kept looking at me. I had my DR badge on and everything. Then, a short weasily man walked up and it's all "hi dr, how can I help you today?"...to the guy. Too bad...I didn't pick up any info on his product after that. (not nursing related, but same idea.....the WOMEN vendors at this expo would look down and try to avoid eye contact with me as I walked around. guess they realized they couldn't flirt with me...🙄 )

Back to the nursing thing...I try not to put too much into being called a nurse by the old people. My grandma has told my entire hometown that I am a plastic surgeon because I mentioned one day (my first year of medical school) that I thought it would be cool. I've tried to educate her, but she simply doesn't understand the whole process.

I like it when I go see if a patient is ready for discharge and they tell me they are very ready but are waiting for a doctor to come let them go. I'll say - well, I am one of your doctors...they perk right up and start taking these big deep breaths to show how well they're breathing and begin telling me about the big BM they had.

Wow, good post - but it is very hard for me to stomach the stereotypes still in medicine today (and I have a Y chromosome)

 

[c.bear]

Patient "So who are you?"
Me "I am a 4th year medical student"
Patient "What type of nurse are you going to be?"
Me "Oh, I am training to be a doctor, Mr./Mrs Soandso"
Patient now with confused look.

Never figured out how to fix the problem. But I have no more ward months before graduation. Yes, I tried the "student doctor" introduction...not that it makes the confusion any less....and I had multiple nurses yell at me and tell me I need to say medical student not student doctor because the patients might think I am a real doctor (sure)...I dunno....good grief....at least in July I will know how to introduce myself.

 

[ExtraCrispy]

I've been cursed with a Punky Brewster look, so I've accepted as inevitable my daily misidentification as nurse (or, more commonly, physical therapist). Patients simply don't think I'm old enough to have an MD. Sure it gets annoying, but the mislabelings have deepened my respect for nurses tremendously; I've experienced firsthand some of the condescending treatment patients give them. I can recall several occasions over the past year when I've walked into a patient's room to examine him, and his neighbor has shouted at me, "Nurse! I gotta take a leak!" or "It's about time, I've been ringing the bell all damn day! Help me take a dump!" They turn red in the face when I tell them I'm a resident; truth be told, I find it most disturbing that they're embarrassed saying these things around an MD, but have no problem dishing out this crap to a nurse. Why should a degree dictate simple human decency?? It's awful. Some of the nurses I know have the patience of saints.

 

[saiyagirl]

during my medicine sub-i, i took care of an elderly woman who didn't appreciate me waking her up every morning to do my H&P (who would?). She would ask me a billion times who I was and why I was there, and I would always remind her that I am a medical student studying to be a doctor, and and am part of the team of doctors caring for her. One morning at around 6, while I was doing the physical she irritatedly asked me - "Are you married?"

I was a little curious where this was coming from but I simply said, "No, I'm not."

At the end of her hospital stay, my entire team from the attending down to third year assembled in her room on our last round with her. I remember the attending wished her luck after her discharge, and she pointed at me said in front of everyone:

"Well I certainly won't miss being woken up so early by this nurse! Girl, you need to find a man and get married, hear? You need something else to do other than wake people up in the morning!"

I knew her well enough by this point to not get offended - actually I was highly amused (along with my team) - and a little amazed at just how much times have changed over a few generations.

 

[Winged Scapula]

... and a little amazed at just how much times have changed over a few generations.

I'm amazed how little times have changed. I still get young people, and some older ones (including my own father) who still think women shouldn't/can't:

- be more educated than men
- be a doctor
- be a surgeon
- be single and over a "certain age" (because, of course, one the "bloom is off the rose", no one will want us anyway - especially with the amount of education we have)
- not want children ("but of course you do, dear") 🙄

 

[saiyagirl]

I'm amazed how little times have changed. I still get young people, and some older ones (including my own father) who still think women shouldn't/can't:

- be more educated than men
- be a doctor
- be a surgeon
- be single and over a "certain age" (because, of course, one the "bloom is off the rose", no one will want us anyway - especially with the amount of education we have)
- not want children ("but of course you do, dear") 🙄

Yeah...that too.

I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[Dr. Dukes]

I have a good friend who is a nursing student just about to graduate from an accelerated RN/BSN/MSN program (1 year to get RN/BSN and then 2 years to get her masters). She has told me 3-4 times that she keeps getting called a doctor/medical student. The best story I heard was a doctor walked out of a patient's room, told the nursing station "the lady in room X needs to go to the bathroom...". My friend walks in, and the patient says, "Dr. I just told that young man (45 year old attending) I needed to go to the bathroom and he should send in a nurse, will you kindly go get one." My friend, who was feeling frisky that day, walked out of the room and had the nurse with whom she was working (and hated) go do it. Apparently it wasn't a bathroom visit one wanted to be part of...

 

[Tigger14]

I know this is about being called a nurse, but what about being called by your first name? I always introduce myself to patients as Dr. Tigger (unless the patient is a friend or coworker) , but recently, several have called me by my first name (after hearing the attending say something to me, or seeing it on my jacket/badge). All but one of my attendings introduces me as "Dr. Tigger, my chief surgical resident".

What gives? And is there a polite way to correct them?😕

 

[deleted4401]

All you can hope to do is correct them ... I think the point made above about people not being malicious is sort of true, but most of these comments point to inherent sexism ... I do love the indignation of female med students/docs when it happens, it's cute. Sorry, couldn't help it!

As far as the first name thing, I have been Simul to patients, nurses, and other ancillary staff ever since residency started. Can't get myself to say Doctor, and I don't think I'll ever do it. Sometimes when overhead paging me, it's "Dr. Simul to simulation". And, out of sarcasm, many of my attendings call me Dr. <last name> when I do something wrong.

-S

 

[Carbon]

I introduce myself to patients with the following: "Hi, I'm Carbon, a senior medical student working with Dr Attending today." The "senior" part usually gets a "oh? When do you graduate?" response, to which I can say, "I'm really excited to get my MD on date such-and-such." Haven't had any misunderstandings with my own patients since I started doing that.

I still get it ALL THE TIME with people on the street, though (like when my parents introduce me). Even when they say, "she's going to be a doctor!" people will say, "Oh, you're going to be a nurse?" or even better, "Oh, you're going to be an ob/gyn?"

The last one pisses me off way more than the nurse thing, by the way, because they understand that women can be doctors, but assume the only suitable job for a woman doctor is treating other women.

 

[Tigger14]

As far as the first name thing, I have been Simul to patients, nurses, and other ancillary staff ever since residency started. Can't get myself to say Doctor, and I don't think I'll ever do it. Sometimes when overhead paging me, it's "Dr. Simul to simulation". And, out of sarcasm, many of my attendings call me Dr. <last name> when I do something wrong.

-S

I also have gone by my first name with staff at all levels, and when they are my patients, I don't care if it carries over. I do beome somewhat aggravated when complete strangers who are my patients start calling me by my first name, especially since they NEVER call the attending by his/her first name.

 

[Mr. McDuck]

Even when they say, "she's going to be a doctor!" people will say, "Oh, you're going to be a nurse?"

What?!

...

What?!?!

 

[c.bear]

Oh...I have had a few attendings introduce me as Dr. Bear instead of C., 4th year medical student. This has only happened at clinics and not in the hospital. I think it is out of an understanding that many patients don't understand the role of medical students. However, it always puts me in a weird situation of not wanting to be look like I know more than I do but not wanting to call the attending a liar to their patients.

 

[LADoc00]

I have a 4'11" female friend who is an intern. One of her patients asked the attending who the little girl was who kept coming in his room every morning.

George Washington was chosen as the general of the Colonial Army almost solely because he was the tallest man in the room

This country has a long history of favoring tall men in leadership positions...doubt that will change much.

 

[Mr. McDuck]

You don't think it had anything to do with the fact that there was little competition for the spot, and that Washington had been made a colonel and commander in chief of the Virginia forces at the end of the French and Indian War (which, of course, he practically managed to start on his own 🙄 )?

You're correct, of course. I just wanted another post.

 

[LADoc00]

short people dont get as much respect...must be evolution as you dont see many primate tribes led by the smallest monkey/gorilla, its usually the biggest male. Seriously, we evolved from a society where one big monkey was usually attended by many smaller and typically female monkeys. Now, if you are a patient do you want to address the smaller helper monkeys or main silverback one??

Now if we had evolved from some other creature, like lizardmen or something, this post would possibly be different.

If a group of white coats walked into my room as a patient, my first inclination would NOT be to assume the one 4'11" person was in charge unless he/she was really really old and wise looking.😉

 

[jbean]

I get called a nurse all the time - also: nutritionist, physical therapist, social worker and the ever present: "are you here to draw my blood?".

The best one though, was when I had just finished sticking a four-inch-long needle into a man's groin to place a femoral line and he looked up at me sweetly and asked, "are you the nurse?"

I also look young, so I guess we should just get used to it.

I think the best approach is the most direct - "no, I am actually a doctor." Once you start talking about doctor stuff, and they understand that you know what you are talking about, they usually start to get it.

But I still really enjoy that look on their face...