John??

As we were driving home from the coast yesterday I had an interesting conversation with my grandma. It made me realize just how much times have really changed within the last 50 years. We were discussing the best jobs we've ever had, which led to talking about funny stories from the workforce.

This eventually led to me talking about when I was about 8mo pregnant (tired, bitchy, and hormonal), I went out to get a patient for an infusion. The patient was "John Miller" (*names are altered for confidentiality purposes). So I proceed with "John?" ... no answer. "John Miller?" .. still nothing. A soft, antagonistic voice sounded as I heard "...you mean DOCTOR Miller?" as this came from a mid 70s salt-and-pepper haired man. He would not look me in the eye and it was as though I had just insulted his dying mother. He followed me back to the room and continued to badger me about how he was not "John" but "Dr Miller". Upon my leaving, he asked me what my name was, in which case I responded I was "Registered Nurse Scovil".

But this brings me to a point. Upon talking to my grandmother she told me how she was raised addressing everyone by "Mr or Mrs or Pastor or Doctor". She never addressed anyone by their first name as this was disrespectful. Upon being called "Dorothy" once, she told me she thought "How dare you! You don't even know me, how dare you call me by my first name!". Wow. Even in nursing school, my teachers only wanted to be addressed by their first names. I never dreamed that actually calling someone by their first name would be so offensive.

I work with a lot of doctors around me. I address them all on a first name basis. Is this because of the times or do they realize that there is much more to a person than their degree? I mean, in today's world, just because you're a doctor does not mean that the world stops ... that you're just entitled to respect because of "what" you are. When Nate was in the military, that is what cracked me up about the military way of thinking. The "upper" ranks were such jackasses sometimes because of "what" they were. Not because of their merit. Not because of their work ethic. But just because of the stripes on their arms. It cracked me up because I knew in the "real" world that attitude of "do you know what I am?!" would be a total joke. They'd likely get a "who the hell cares" before being punched in the face. And perhaps for some that is why they're afraid to leave the life of the wonderful military .. because then they'd have to "earn" respect.

I got off base with the military sidebar. I just am amazed at how different times are from music, movies, upbringing, religion, sexual preference, vacations, clothes, food, and even down to common courtesy. Should I be fearful of the next 50 years?