Okayyyy????

I was in the grocery store today and was hit in the calf by a cart. A young sounding voice said, "I'm sorry hun". I turned around and saw a very young, probably teen, mom standing there with her young son. In my head I thought, "Why is this really young girl calling me hun?" It did not seem appropriate since I was clearly her elder. Then, I thought about how patients must feel to constantly be called hun, sweetie, sweetheart, hunny, etc. by nurses who are often much younger. Okayyyy hun? Do you see what I am saying? Nurses are taught NOT to be paternalistic. They are taught to value their patients' autonomy, but it is not long after graduation where "I need you to take your medication sweetheart, Okayyyyy?" is ingrained in their daily dialogue. If I am ever a patient and my 22 year-old nurse calls me hun, I will likely bite her, and pretend I am delirious!