last name

[Aforeigner]

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Hi guys,
I am new to US and I came from a country where no last name is used. Due to this reason, I still have some trouble on last and first name. I have already registered to take clinical skill soon and I am here to ask you which name-last or first name is written first on the doorway information in CS exam. I learnt that the appropriate way to call the SP is by last name. So, if I know the last name is the first or the second one on the doorway information, I can handle it easily. Thank you very much.

 

[Golding]

Say "Cameron" is a first name and "Smith" is a last name.

Names can presented as any of the following:
"Cameron Smith"
"Smith, Cameron"
"Mr. Smith" if the patient is male
"Ms. Smith" or "Mrs. Smith" if the patient is a female

 

[Aforeigner]

Say "Cameron" is a first name and "Smith" is a last name.

Names can presented as any of the following:
"Cameron Smith"
"Smith, Cameron"
"Mr. Smith" if the patient is male
"Ms. Smith" or "Mrs. Smith" if the patient is a female

Thank you very much for your response. For CS exam, do they have a standard. On dorway information, which format should I expect? As Camerron, Smith or Smith Cameron.

 

[Golding]

It's been a few months since my CS, but I sort of recall it being just "Mr. Cameron Smith" or "Ms. Cameron Smith". Then you can do your thing of knocking on the door and asking if they're ready, saying "Hi Mr/Ms Smith", introducing yourself, shaking your hands, etc etc.

I don't recall them doing the formal reversing of names like "Smith, Cameron" (where the comma separating the names indicate that the first name written is the last name). But that is how it's written in real life clinics, so it's worth being aware.

Yours is actually kind of an interesting dilemma that I never would have thought of, not being used to people with multiple names.

 

[Aforeigner]

It's been a few months since my CS, but I sort of recall it being just "Mr. Cameron Smith" or "Ms. Cameron Smith". Then you can do your thing of knocking on the door and asking if they're ready, saying "Hi Mr/Ms Smith", introducing yourself, shaking your hands, etc etc.

I don't recall them doing the formal reversing of names like "Smith, Cameron" (where the comma separating the names indicate that the first name written is the last name). But that is how it's written in real life clinics, so it's worth being aware.

Yours is actually kind of an interesting dilemma that I never would have thought of, not being used to people with multiple names.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance. I think it is clear now and easy. If there is a comma between the names, then the first one is last name otherwise it is first name. Thanks again

 

[coup de chance]

Wow what countries/continents do not use last names other than Madonna-land and the supermodel-land-formation ???

 

[kryptik]

thats so badass

 

[metallo]

Wow what countries/continents do not use last names other than Madonna-land and the supermodel-land-formation ???

I don't have a general answer to your question, but when I did my 3rd year Medicine rotation, the IMG intern I worked with had big problems grasping the first name/last name thing, and he was from India. He would walk in the room to see a new patient and would call them Mrs. Patricia or Mr. Robert. Most patients didn't even flinch, although there were a few who clearly thought it was strange, but no one ever said anything. I considered trying to explain it to him, although I didn't feel comfortable correcting a resident at the time. That rotation was near the end of the year, and he did this with every patient, so apparently nobody else told him about it either, which is shocking... and even if no one told him, you'd assume he would have figured it out after listening to other people saying patients' names on rounds.

 

[coup de chance]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I've seen it too with some residents (Indians and other). I always thought they did it on purpose just because, like you said, there is ample opportunity to notice that all the other docs says pts names in the same way but different way from those particular residents.

But Subcontinent Indians learn English when they're young, right?

And also, they're known to be a pretty hospitable people, so maybe your resident was trying to be formal (Mr/s.) without being too stiff (hence the use of first names)???

 

[GuzzyRon]

I don't have a general answer to your question, but when I did my 3rd year Medicine rotation, the IMG intern I worked with had big problems grasping the first name/last name thing, and he was from India. He would walk in the room to see a new patient and would call them Mrs. Patricia or Mr. Robert. Most patients didn't even flinch, although there were a few who clearly thought it was strange, but no one ever said anything. I considered trying to explain it to him, although I didn't feel comfortable correcting a resident at the time. That rotation was near the end of the year, and he did this with every patient, so apparently nobody else told him about it either, which is shocking... and even if no one told him, you'd assume he would have figured it out after listening to other people saying patients' names on rounds.

Actually, where I'm from originally, title denotes respect (Prof., Mr., Mrs., Ms. etc) and if followed by first or last name indicates setting (formal vs. semi-formal/informal). For instance, Mr. Robert Smith: will be addressed Mr. Robert Smith (or simply Mr. Smith) in a formal setting while Mr. Robert is used in a semi-formal/informal setting. And simply 'Robert' if the person is a close peer (say, a drinking buddy) or a subordinate.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Heres the good news. It DOESNT MATTER.

Granted, it is more common in the south than anywhere else, but if Cameron Smith is the patient, and you use Ms Cameron or Ms Smith, you are still being polite enough.

Ding. Dont worry about it. Pick one. Stick with it.

 

[GuzzyRon]

Heres the good news. It DOESNT MATTER.

Granted, it is more common in the south than anywhere else, but if Cameron Smith is the patient, and you use Ms Cameron or Ms Smith, you are still being polite enough.

Ding. Dont worry about it. Pick one. Stick with it.

Agreed...especially in a country as diverse as ours! 😀