If I had to give up one word that I use regularly that word is honey.I used to use honey a lot until it became an embarrassment for me. I used to call every of my patient honey. I will knock on the door and come into my patient’s room.
Introduction of myself : Good morning honey my name is Philomena and I will be your nurse from 7am to 3:30pm.
Everything was working out well and I did not realize that the word honey has become popularly attached to me. One day I was coming out of the clean utility room when I heard a patient that was asking for me. Here is how he started, ” I am looking for my nurse that calls me honey”. I became frozen ,I stood still and did not move or cough waiting for the other nurses response.All the nurses started laughing and replied her name is Philomena, she calls everyone honey ,you are not the only one that she calls that name. I was dumbfounded and couldn’t believe what I heard.
On that day I made up my mind that I must put a stop to the word honey. But I know that it will take time. I walked to the nursing station and met my patient .
Hi honey are you looking for me.He looked at me.I could see his face beam with excitement .He replied yes can you come to my room when you are less busy.I knew that he was trying to be polite. There must be something that he was desperate to discuss with me. So I walked with him to his room. He is a tall lanky middle age white man well nourished.He demanded for vital signs check and some snacks I gave him everything that he wanted and a cup of ice water.I knew that he wanted to have a conversation with me. I talked with him a little bit and left his room.He then asked me before I left why should a woman leave his marriage after twenty years.I told him that I don’t know but he might want to speak with a marriage counselor. He told me that he wanted my opinion as an experienced woman and I nurse.
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From that day forward the elimination of the word honey became a task that must be accomplished. Should I hide my face or not hide my face?.If I should not hide my face why did I call everyone honey?.
Unsplash.com/photos / search. In my subconscious mind I could only see the word honey that goes to every lurk and crane with me .So I started doing my best to eliminate it whenever I caught myself using it I retrace my steps until honey was finally laid to rest.
In conclusion I was able to eliminate the word honey from my vocabulary but it wasn’t without a fight.
Nurses You Move Me 
Just stay true to you… I heard my mom once tell a man that she didn’t like being referred to as “bee sh!t”… I think honey is just a polite term of endearment word. You are trying to connect with the patients on a more personal level… but then don’t be surprised when they try to connect back on a more personal level also. Thank you for sharing your story! See how a word could be either “good” or “bad” or even “neither” depending on who you ask and their past experiences with the word. Keep being you!
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Thank you very much. The patients connected well with me because they saw my genuineness but the popularity is what I was afraid of ” she calls everyone honey “. I should call my patient by their name and not honey. So honey must stop
I didn’t want to lose my job.
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