Robert Hickey is Deputy Director of The Protocol School of Washington (where I was trained) and author of Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles, & Forms of Address. He answers questions about etiquette and protocol on his blog and received the question below on how to address a note of thanks to health care workers when you only have access to their first names.
Since I am a former nurse and have a special niche in teaching etiquette/protocol in the health care arena, he invited me to weigh in on the answer.
As always, thank you Robert, for your generosity.
Here is Robert’s contact info and the link to his blog. He welcomes your questions.
http://www.formsofaddress.info/faq.html
Hi Karen,
Do you want to answer this one for you site?
Dear Mr. Hickey,
How should one address a note of thanks for services rendered by a medical professional, such as a person ranked MD, RN, or CNA, whose name badge gives only the person’s first name and surname initial? I ask because my mother, who is elderly and as of today is receiving hospice care, recently spent several grueling weeks in a local hospital, and has asked that I express her gratitude to the medical personnel who attended her with outstanding kindness and compassion.
I know her main physicians’ surnames, but most of the medical team revealed only their first names and last name initials, such as Beth M., RN or Bob M., CNA on their badges. This reminds me of elementary school, when we children were required to head our papers with only our given names and surname initials. That was appropriate for young children with emerging manual dexterity in a small classroom, but I do not understand how it makes sense in a professional setting, unless the personnel involved fear legal retribution, such as malpractice suits, and thus wish to hide their true identities.
Please advise me on how to address these semi-anonymous professionals, who hold their patients’ lives in their hands but will not reveal their full identifies.
Yours,Peyton Stafford
Also, if the patient has an established relationship with the facility there is a chance that a manager or supervisor would share last names.
Speaking from personal experience, from my nursing days, cards and notes of gratitude are always so appreciated by care givers. Any gifts, like candy or other food items should be sent to the team since ethically, nurses and physicians are discouraged from accepting personal gifts.
Sincerely,
Karen
