The DU Lounge

Initially a lieutenant, and after 2 years, a captain. After I got out and got a job in a civilian private practice, I had to figure out how I wanted to introduce myself. My predecessor in the job had been called "Doctor Anne," which I was not comfortable with. I thought it was false advertising. Lots of nurse practitioners go by their first names, because we all start out as bedside nurses, and first names are what we use in that setting. After being called by my rank, switching to just my first name felt too casual and informal.

I decided to be "Mrs. 4 syllable Italian surname." I typically addressed the mothers as Mrs. Whoever. I reasoned that no one called the doctors by their first names, kids don't call their teachers by their first names, and it get like the use of a title conveyed some dignity and seriousness that was appropriate to the role. No families ever had a problem with it.