How to Address Nurses in Conversation and in Writing

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

We’ve all interacted with nurses before, but how often have you actually addressed them in conversation? Many nurses prefer to be called by their first name, and most will let you know how to address them when they introduce themselves. To help you out, we’ve put together a complete list of appropriate ways to address nurses—including an RN (Registered Nurse), NP (Nurse Practitioner), CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist), and more—conversationally and in writing. If you’re ready to connect with your valuable health care provider, read on!

1

Address them as Miss or Mister.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Address-Nurses-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-Nurses-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Address-Nurses-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Address-Nurses-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is a respectful way to get their attention if you’re not sure how they prefer to be addressed. If you can see their nametag, include their first or last name afterwards. This is appropriate for any type of nurse, including an RN, NP, or CRNA. [1] For example:
    • “Excuse me, Miss Lauren?”
    • “Thank you, Mister Hill.”
    • “Hi Miss, can you point me in the right direction?”
    2. Advertisement
2

Call them “nurse.”

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Address-Nurses-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-Nurses-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Address-Nurses-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Address-Nurses-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s similar to how you would call a doctor “doctor” when you first meet. It might feel too formal at first, but many nurses will let you know what to call them after you start talking. Some may prefer “nurse” as a matter of privacy. [2]
    • “Excuse me, nurse?”
    • “Thank you, nurse!”
    • “Good morning, nurse. How would you like to be addressed?”
    • Even though a Nurse Practitioner may serve in a doctor-like role, they should still be addressed as “nurse” rather than “doctor.”
3

Use their first name.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2e\/Address-Nurses-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-Nurses-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2e\/Address-Nurses-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Address-Nurses-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It helps build a comfortable, caring relationship with the patients they’re looking after. Wait to call them by name until they introduce themself this way or you ask if that’s what they prefer. Otherwise, stick with Miss, Mister, or Nurse. [3]
    • “Thank you, Emily!”
    • “Can you get John for me?”
    • “Sarah, which medication am I supposed to take first?”
    2. Advertisement
4

Use “nurse” plus their name.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Address-Nurses-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-Nurses-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Address-Nurses-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Address-Nurses-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This format is a little outdated, but it’s still a respectful way to address a nurse if you're unsure what they prefer or want to be more formal. Check the nurse’s name tag if you’re unsure what to call them (most just have a first name and last initial). [4]
    • “Hi, I’m looking for Nurse Claire.”
    • “Thank you, Nurse Kyle!”
    • “Where’s Nurse Jones?”
5

Refer to a military nurse by their rank.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Address-Nurses-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-Nurses-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Address-Nurses-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Address-Nurses-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In this case, it’s appropriate to call them by their rank and last name. If they don’t introduce themselves as such, you can gather their rank by their name tag or uniform decoration. [5] For example:
    • “Good morning, Officer Williams.”
    • “Excuse me, Lieutenant Brown?”
    • “You’ll be working with Captain Schumacher today.”
    2. Advertisement
6

Address mail with their name and designation.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Address-Nurses-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-Nurses-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Address-Nurses-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Address-Nurses-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This way, there’s no confusion about who the letter or note is for and you don’t have to worry about a prefix. The most common designations are RN (Registered Nurse), APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse), and LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse). If they’re a Nurse Practitioner, use NP. [6] For example:
    • “To: Joan Smith, RN”
    • “For Kevin McNamara, NP”
    • “Jack Klein, APRN”
7

Use their name in a salutation.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Address-Nurses-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-Nurses-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Address-Nurses-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Address-Nurses-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Use their first name if you’re friendly or close to them, or call them Mister or Miss with their last name to be more formal. You’ll most likely only address them this way if you’re writing a thank you letter or, if you’re very close, inviting them to an event. [7] For example:
    • “Dear Joanna”
    • “Dear Mr. Weiss”
    • “Dear Miss Andrews”
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • A nurse who holds a doctorate degree, such as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD, should still be referred to as "nurse" or their name. To avoid confusion, "doctor" should only be used to address physicians with a medical degree, such as Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). [8]
        Thanks
      • Male nurses should be referred to as “nurse” and not as a “murse” (a combination of the words “male” and “nurse”) as a sign of respect. [9]
        Thanks
      • When in doubt, ask your nurse what they prefer to be called. They’ll often say you can address them by their first name.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://themocracy.com/how-do-you-address-a-nurse-practioner/
      2. ↑ https://themocracy.com/how-do-you-address-a-nurse-practioner/
      3. ↑ https://www.kevinmd.com/2010/09/nurses-expect-called-names-doctors-follow.html
      4. ↑ https://www.kevinmd.com/2010/09/nurses-expect-called-names-doctors-follow.html
      5. ↑ https://nurse.org/resources/military-army-nurse/
      6. ↑ https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/health-care/3-types-of-nurses-designations-degrees-and-requirements/
      7. ↑ https://www.incrediblehealth.com/blog/steps-to-writing-a-thank-you-note-for-nurses/
      8. ↑ https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/blog/whats-up-doc-addressing-dnp-educated-nurses-as-doctor/
      9. ↑ https://gadgetssai.com/what-do-you-call-a-male-nurse/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 22,105 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement