I've used "honey" and "sweetie" ever since my Will and Grace phase, but it drives me crazy to hear myself say it.
Ha1 You and me both. If I'm marginally rested and dealing with a difficult patient they'd never pass my lips. As my night goes on the frequency increases. It's either that or start swearing. Men, I find, are a little more amenable to being addressed as "dear" than women. Then again, the population I end up speaking to is confused as a mofo so my data set is skewed.

And HA! again to feminist. In my defense I never use diminutives on my female coworkers. Another word, beginning with "b", comes to mind.