How to Address Nurses in Conversation and in Writing

Co-authored by Tami Claytor and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: June 15, 2023 References

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.

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Miss or Mister is appropriate until the nurse introduces themself to you. 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]
X
Research source} For example:
- “Excuse me, Miss Lauren?”
- “Thank you, Mister Hill.”
- “Hi Miss, can you point me in the right direction?”

2

Call them “nurse.”

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“Nurse” is a respectful way to address any nurse until they tell you otherwise. 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]
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- “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.

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The majority of nurses prefer to be called their first name at work. 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]
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- “Thank you, Emily!”
- “Can you get John for me?”
- “Sarah, which medication am I supposed to take first?”

4

Use “nurse” plus their name.

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If you know the nurse's first or last name, use it after the word “nurse.” 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]
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- “Hi, I’m looking for Nurse Claire.”
- “Thank you, Nurse Kyle!”
- “Where’s Nurse Jones?”

5

Refer to a military nurse by their rank.

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Military nurses are ranked officers, just like soldiers. 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]
X
Research source} For example:
- “Good morning, Officer Williams.”
- “Excuse me, Lieutenant Brown?”
- “You’ll be working with Captain Schumacher today.”

6

Address mail with their name and designation.

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On the envelope, include their designation after their full name. 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]
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Research source} For example:
- “To: Joan Smith, RN”
- “For Kevin McNamara, NP”
- “Jack Klein, APRN”

7

Use their name in a salutation.

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In a letter or email greeting, address them like you'd address an acquaintance. 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]
X
Research source} For example:
- “Dear Joanna”
- “Dear Mr. Weiss”
- “Dear Miss Andrews”

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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]
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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]
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When in doubt, ask your nurse what they prefer to be called. They’ll often say you can address them by their first name.

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