Show me that you want to listen to me
The amount of times I go in and they don’t introduce themselves. They must introduce themselves so many times; they forget they haven’t met me yet. I had to go to the emergency department the other week, and there was a nurse and she was good, she introduced herself straight away. And then the triage nurse, and she was like ‘Right, what’s the issue?’ with no introduction. Child or Young Person
Some don’t even say ‘hello, my name is… how are you?’. It’s hard to talk to them about sensitive things as it is, especially if they don’t even introduce themselves. Child or Young Person
You see 30 people in a day. We see 1 person. So you’re going to leave your mark on us. Child or Young Person
I find out what the child or young person would like to be called, sounds obvious but it might not be what is written down on your paper and might make your meeting a lot different, if you are not using the name only their mother calls them when they are in trouble!
“Hello I’m Matthew the Social Worker, here’s my badge. What’s your name?” I like to give my name and show my name badge to ensure that a child or young person had not misheard me.
After I have introduced myself, I like to ask the child or young person who they would like to be present for the conversation.
“Hello Maya, my name is Anna and I am a consultant nurse leading the chronic fatigue service and I am meeting with you today” Often people think I am a Doctor so I like to remind them that I am a nurse.
“Hi, my name is Nikesh, I am a pharmacist, (which often means nothing to them, so I say…) I am the person that looks after your medicines”.
“I’ve got your name down on my piece of paper as Harriet, is that what you would like to be called?”
“Hi I’m John and I’ve got one of the best jobs in the world…”
I sometimes shake their hand; because this is what I normally do with all my patients and it is important recognise the increasing autonomy of older young people and show respect towards them.
I talk directly to the child or young person, tell them my name and my role and especially with the teenagers I ask them “do you know about my role?” I find I have to help define my role to make sure that the child or young person knows we don’t think that they are ‘mad’. Children and young people find my role difficult to understand as I’m literally just there to talk.
I find out what the child or young person would like to be called, sounds obvious but it might not be what is written down on your paper and might make your meeting a lot different, if you are not using the name only their mother calls them when they are in trouble!
Lindsay-Kay, Adolescent Clinical Nurse Specialist
“Hello I’m Matthew the Social Worker, here’s my badge. What’s your name?” I like to give my name and show my name badge to ensure that a child or young person had not misheard me.
Matthew, Social Worker
After I have introduced myself, I like to ask the child or young person who they would like to be present for the conversation.
James, Registrar
“Hello Maya, my name is Anna and I am a consultant nurse leading the chronic fatigue service and I am meeting with you today” Often people think I am a Doctor so I like to remind them that I am a nurse.
Anna, Nurse Consultant
“Hi, my name is Nikesh, I am a pharmacist, (which often means nothing to them, so I say…) I am the person that looks after your medicines”.
Nikesh, Pharmacist
“I’ve got your name down on my piece of paper as Harriet, is that what you would like to be called?”
Vanessa, Practice Educator
“Hi I’m John and I’ve got one of the best jobs in the world…”
John, Nurse
I sometimes shake their hand; because this is what I normally do with all my patients and it is important recognise the increasing autonomy of older young people and show respect towards them.
Sanjeev, Consultant
I talk directly to the child or young person, tell them my name and my role and especially with the teenagers I ask them “do you know about my role?” I find I have to help define my role to make sure that the child or young person knows we don’t think that they are ‘mad’. Children and young people find my role difficult to understand as I’m literally just there to talk.
Elizabeth, Clinical Psychologist
No Related Resources
