Credentials

Nurses Professionalism

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Specializes in Informatics.

I am fully aware that it is illegal for one who is not a nurse to refer to him/herself as a nurse, but what about the credentials of BSN vs ADN?

A little background, I am an Associate's Degree Registered Nurse currently and will finish my BSN in May. I had a jacket embroidered to say my name and then RN, BSN... the embroidering took over a month for my appointment time to get set up and the cost to do it is the same no matter how many letters are applied.

If anyone asks, I would tell them that I am not yet a BSN for another four months and that I had the BSN preemptively applied to save time and money, but am I breaking any rules by doing so? I tried to Google the topic and looked through my institution's policy/procedure manual with no result so was wondering if any of you other nurses had some input on the matter.

Thanks!

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Specializes in ER.

Well, technically you are advertising yourself with special training when you do not have that training. You are also saying you have credentials that you don't have. I wouldn't wear the coat till you have the BSN degree.

I personally would have saved the headache and not put down BSN. I don't get why people like to stick lots and lots of stuff on their name tag.

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I 100% agree with applesxoranges

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Specializes in Informatics.
Well, technically you are advertising yourself with special training when you do not have that training. You are also saying you have credentials that you don't have.

Is there a penalty for infraction of which you are aware?

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So just don't wear the jacket till May. And if you don't get the BSN, just rip out the stitching.

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Specializes in Informatics.
am I breaking any rules by doing so?

Is there a penalty for infraction of which you are aware?

Allow me to narrow the discussion to these questions.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Allow me to narrow the discussion to these questions.

Generally, the appropriate response to helpful advice is "thank you."

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In the state I work, yes, you can be sanctioned for identifying yourself with credentials that you have not earned yet.

Secondly, if you did RN, BSN its wrong anyway. The correct way is your highest degree first followed by licensure. Joe Smith, BSN, RN.

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/DisplayCredentials-Brochure.pdf

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Specializes in Informatics.
Generally, the appropriate response to helpful advice is "thank you."
I did not feel that it was helpful because it was not answering my question.

In the state I work, yes, you can be sanctioned for identifying yourself with credentials that you have not earned yet.

Secondly, if you did RN, BSN its wrong anyway. The correct way is your highest degree first followed by licensure. Joe Smith, BSN, RN.

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/DisplayCredentials-Brochure.pdf

Thank you for your poignant response and additional information as to the order I mistakenly listed the items.

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No legal consequences that I'm aware of for claiming an academic degree that you don't have, but your employer would likely have problems with it (many employers consider that level of dishonesty to be a firing offense) and it certainly reflects poorly on one's personal integrity. Whaddya mean, "If someone asks ...", you'll tell them?? How many people walk up to someone and say, "Gee, I notice you have "BSN" on your jacket; do you really have a BSN?" People see the credentials and assume that the licensed professional with individual's lives in her/his hands wouldn't lie about having them.

What's the rush? Why the heck didn't you just wait until May (and actually having the degree in hand -- many things could happen between now and then) to order the jacket? And please just leave it in the closet until wearing it isn't lying about your credentials.

Disney is correct about the order of the credentials, although lots of nurses get it wrong.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Allow me to narrow the discussion to these questions.

Allow me to remind you that one who posts questions on the internet does not have the luxury of restricting, monitoring or filtering the responses.

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Specializes in Informatics.
No legal consequences that I'm aware of for claiming an academic degree that you don't have
That's all you had to say
but your employer would likely have problems with it (many employers consider that level of dishonesty to be a firing offense)
They don't, I showed the DON and she laughed then gave me a high five.

and it certainly reflects poorly on one's personal integrity. Whaddya mean, "If someone asks ...", you'll tell them?? How many people walk up to someone and say, "Gee, I notice you have "BSN" on your jacket; do you really have a BSN?" People see the credentials and assume that the licensed professional with individual's lives in her/his hands wouldn't lie about having them.
I wear it inside, it goes into my locker for 12 hours until I leave. If it was on my name badge, then I definitely would be remiss in donning it.

What's the rush? Why the heck didn't you just wait until May (and actually having the degree in hand -- many things could happen between now and then) to order the jacket? And please just leave it in the closet until wearing it isn't lying about your credentials.
Nah I think I'll keep wearing it.

Disney is correct about the order of the credentials, although lots of nurses get it wrong.
Yes, I acknowledged that I was mistaken. You'd be surprised how many organizations also have it wrong because I see name badges that have it flipped all the time.

I should have just asked the question I wanted an answer for so I could skip all the unsolicited advice.

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