Do you prefer "Honey" or "Sweetie"

An interesting conversation came up the other day at work. It seems there was a housekeeper outside an exam room door who overheard a conversation. This prompted her to write a complaint letter that resulted in a written reprimand for one of our nurses. Apparently she overheard a nurse call a patient "Dear" and was immediately insulted for the patient and thus lodged her complaint.
Over reaction? Realistic? Implied or outright insult? Which camp are you in?

I read with interest the theories that state nurses need to connect with patients. We need to do more, be more, counsel, care, and in some cases heal. (In some institutions they are actually deemed "clients." Although "client" and "market share" are fully insulting in my book - these are not shoppers looking for the latest upgrade on a toaster oven - I prefer to call them patients. A wholly unique title for a unique role during the continuum of health.) In our nursing role in the ER we assess and treat and counsel and teach and empathize in a mere handful of minutes. How many times have you put in a line or a catheter or some other invasive pokey thing within minutes of meeting the patient? Therein lies the problem...how do we address the patient?
Sir? Madam? Hey You? Uhhmm, hey? Mr/Ms patient?

I don't know about you, but I have countless times been spreading legs on a female and trying to talk calmly while making eye contact and reassuring the patient that the procedure will be quick and relatively painless and then IT HAPPENS!!!! I forget the young ladies' name! NOT a good time to ask to look at the name band! Not only will you break a sterile field, you might also break what little trust this sweet stranger is trying to build with you while you have your hands on her nether regions! I used to break into a sweat and start to stammer, "uh, uh, yeah, I'm um, gonna stick this thing in here..." Well, that sounded mighty professional! We 'dinos' in the nursing world and especially the nursing areas that have limited time/contact with the patient have all had this happen at one time or another.

Let's think about this...intimate area exposed, short acquaintance with the patient and no name recalled at a critical moment. Viola' we have a situation ripe for a mode of address that is a bit more familiar than 'hey you' or 'sir/madam.'

Are we truly being rude or disrespectful? Given a reversal of roles, I would gladly be called honey or dear by someone slipping a piece of cold equipment into an orifice I currently own or an artificial one they are about to create - as long as they smile warmly and look me in the eye...