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I've always wondered: What's a correct way to address a medical practitioner or a psych therapist/counselor who's not a doctor? (MD or PA) Or a nurse (all levels: CNA, LPN, RN, and NP), for that matter.
I've had appointments with practitioners who weren't technically doctors (MD's), but rather DDS, LCSW, PA, or NP. I've always erred on the side of formality, and called them "Doctor LastName" as much as possible, unless they were strictly nurses. That's not always correct, but no one seemed to object, either.
* For dentists, "Dr. Last Name" is actually correct.
* For hospital nurses, both as a patient and an on-site IT technician, I referred to them as "Nurse FirstName"; they didn't correct me or report me. (Simply "FirstName" strikes me as too informal, given the difficult work they do.) They called me "Mr. LastName" when I was a patient, and "FirstName" when I fixed their computer.
* For talk therapists, it varies. Some went by "FirstName LastName". Others went by just "FirstName", which has a "fake friend" feel to it, given the client/therapist power differential.
* For physical therapists of massage/spa chains, it was always "FirstName" with no title beforehand. I'm fine with that, given the low power differential, unlike with talk therapists.
* (Not a medical profession, but...) For lawyers, I always called them "Mr./Ms. LastName". When I'm dealing with someone who can change my life with their expertise, I want to be formal.
But what about practitioners like PA's, NP's, DO's, and the likes? They're higher than nurses (for whom a first name is normal), but lower than true doctors (for whom "Dr." is 100% correct). So what's a correct way to address those specialists, both to their face and in third person? And what about chiropractors and such? I never saw one, but is "Dr. LastName" correct?
I've always wondered: What's a correct way to address a medical practitioner or a psych therapist/counselor who's not a doctor? (MD or PA) Or a nurse (all levels: CNA, LPN, RN, and NP), for that matter.
I've had appointments with practitioners who weren't technically doctors (MD's), but rather DDS, LCSW, PA, or NP. I've always erred on the side of formality, and called them "Doctor LastName" as much as possible, unless they were strictly nurses. That's not always correct, but no one seemed to object, either.
* For dentists, "Dr. Last Name" is actually correct.
* For hospital nurses, both as a patient and an on-site IT technician, I referred to them as "Nurse FirstName"; they didn't correct me or report me. (Simply "FirstName" strikes me as too informal, given the difficult work they do.) They called me "Mr. LastName" when I was a patient, and "FirstName" when I fixed their computer.
* For talk therapists, it varies. Some went by "FirstName LastName". Others went by just "FirstName", which has a "fake friend" feel to it, given the client/therapist power differential.
* For physical therapists of massage/spa chains, it was always "FirstName" with no title beforehand. I'm fine with that, given the low power differential, unlike with talk therapists.
* (Not a medical profession, but...) For lawyers, I always called them "Mr./Ms. LastName". When I'm dealing with someone who can change my life with their expertise, I want to be formal.
But what about practitioners like PA's, NP's, DO's, and the likes? They're higher than nurses (for whom a first name is normal), but lower than true doctors (for whom "Dr." is 100% correct). So what's a correct way to address those specialists, both to their face and in third person? And what about chiropractors and such? I never saw one, but is "Dr. LastName" correct?
DOs take the same boards as MDs. It's just a slightly different style of education. They should be called "doctor". The NPs and PAs in my husband's medical practice always introduce themselves as "Katie", "Bryce", etc.
I've always wondered: What's a correct way to address a medical practitioner or a psych therapist/counselor who's not a doctor? (MD or PA) Or a nurse (all levels: CNA, LPN, RN, and NP), for that matter.
I've had appointments with practitioners who weren't technically doctors (MD's), but rather DDS, LCSW, PA, or NP. I've always erred on the side of formality, and called them "Doctor LastName" as much as possible, unless they were strictly nurses. That's not always correct, but no one seemed to object, either.
* For dentists, "Dr. Last Name" is actually correct.
* For hospital nurses, both as a patient and an on-site IT technician, I referred to them as "Nurse FirstName"; they didn't correct me or report me. (Simply "FirstName" strikes me as too informal, given the difficult work they do.) They called me "Mr. LastName" when I was a patient, and "FirstName" when I fixed their computer.
* For talk therapists, it varies. Some went by "FirstName LastName". Others went by just "FirstName", which has a "fake friend" feel to it, given the client/therapist power differential.
* For physical therapists of massage/spa chains, it was always "FirstName" with no title beforehand. I'm fine with that, given the low power differential, unlike with talk therapists.
* (Not a medical profession, but...) For lawyers, I always called them "Mr./Ms. LastName". When I'm dealing with someone who can change my life with their expertise, I want to be formal.
But what about practitioners like PA's, NP's, DO's, and the likes? They're higher than nurses (for whom a first name is normal), but lower than true doctors (for whom "Dr." is 100% correct). So what's a correct way to address those specialists, both to their face and in third person? And what about chiropractors and such? I never saw one, but is "Dr. LastName" correct?
"talk therapist" is too broad a category - ANYONE can call themselves a "therapist" even if they don't have a H.S. diploma. So they can have fewer formal qualifications that someone qualified to do physical therapy.
If all you need is casual "counseling" then that may be fine. If you have more serious issues then I'd rather go to someone with at least a master's in Counseling or even Social Work. Now, do you call them Mr. /Ms. or by their first name? lol
Funny but I never address them at all as anything, I just speak to them. I also do not want to be called by my first name which virtually everyone gets wrong even after being corrected. Instead if they must address me it should be Mrs. xxx.
I was a nurse practitioner and most of my patients called me "Miss First Name" Some would start with Mrs. Last Name and I would say "Please call me First Name".
(I live in the South so "Miss First Name" has nothing at all to do with whether or not the person is married)
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