Does your hospital ID badge have your first AND last name on it?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

seems some people might find that a little invasive when you think about how many people you interact w/ on a personal and impersonal level day in and day out.

Specializes in Pediatrics.
The way I figure it...if someone wants to do me harm, it does not matter how much of my name is on my badge. In fact, I could have the name "Micky Mouse" on my badge and they would still do harm to me. And I certainly don't see how a patient knowing my last name is somehow a threat to my privacy.

Have you been on the Internet lately? Ever googled your name? While I'm not among the ones who feel so strongly about not revealing my last name, I can certainly see how some people are concerned about privacy.

Heck, sometimes I worry about revealing my identity here, and in the many years on this site, I've dwindled my profile info down to a minimum. But if you read enough of someone's posts, you may very well be able to piece together an identity (I know I have).

Specializes in Critical Care.

I have to disagree with the "right to privacy" argument for Nurses. You're a publicly licensed professional, with that you lose the right to anonymity.

apts can request theur medical records. get your full name and title and google you. google your first and last name, you can find out plenty. even those not on social networking sites. there are others that have your name, number, address, and marriages or divorces, land/ property bought etc. some of thesr sites charge a small fee. there isnt any annonimity any more.

apts can request theur medical records. get your full name and title and google you. google your first and last name, you can find out plenty. even those not on social networking sites. there are others that have your name, number, address, and marriages or divorces, land/ property bought etc. some of thesr sites charge a small fee. there isnt any annonimity any more.

Can't they also do that with physicians? Should physicians also just use their first names? See, in that regard, the argument doesn't make sense.

I say unless I am going to be addressed by my surname like a physician, (i.e. nurse Smith, nurse Johnson) then I see no reason why my last name has to be on the badge. So my patients can look me up on facebook? Google me? Then again, I guess I know every single detail about my patients I guess they deserve the chance to at least know my first and last name if they feel inclined to read my badge. I usually don't mind one way or another, I can always flip my badge over if I'm getting a creepy vibe.

Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

My hospital gets alot of people from the nearby prison (everyone has "chest pain") one of my friends was caring for one of them and read her badge outloud with her last name on it and said "i like that name. Ill remember it." We dont get our last names on our badges anymore and its not required to do it. Really, any person can use your name for anything these days.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.
I say unless I am going to be addressed by my surname like a physician, (i.e. nurse Smith, nurse Johnson) then I see no reason why my last name has to be on the badge. So my patients can look me up on facebook? Google me? Then again, I guess I know every single detail about my patients I guess they deserve the chance to at least know my first and last name if they feel inclined to read my badge. I usually don't mind one way or another, I can always flip my badge over if I'm getting a creepy vibe.

I think some nurses go by their last name. Especially the older ones. A few younger ones (that have more difficult to pronounce first names). It is a personal choice in most cases, I assume.

Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

First and last names on our badges, it doesn't bother me. They'll know my name when I discharge them anyway since it's on their paperwork.

Some people I work with cover it up with tape.

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Mine has both first & last, but the first name is bigger & bolder with the last name underneath. I'd have to look to be able to tell you whether its on the back as well, lol. Doesn't seem to matter much anyway since I often have pts ask what my last name is.

My first job didn't even have ID badges for the employees (small office setting), but my last one had first, last, and title for the nurses. Docs and NPs didn't have any ID badge and front desk just had first name and last initial. Nursing school issued a pin with the school name on it and first/last name but no picture.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Have you been on the Internet lately? Ever googled your name? While I'm not among the ones who feel so strongly about not revealing my last name, I can certainly see how some people are concerned about privacy.

Heck, sometimes I worry about revealing my identity here, and in the many years on this site, I've dwindled my profile info down to a minimum. But if you read enough of someone's posts, you may very well be able to piece together an identity (I know I have).

There is a big difference between having my name on the internet versus a true invasion of my privacy. I have to write my full name and address on a gazillion applications and other forms, yet I can't refuse to reveal my last name (and other information) when I fill them out. I can understand why a nurse does not reveal their last name to certain pt populations (mental health, prison, etc.) for safety reasons. As for someone knowing your last name or having you last name posted online--I cannot see how this is a privacy issue.

Hi guys I have been reading your post about id badges... I was just wondering can we scan our id badge on facebook? you know just kind of a little proud that I got into this hospital :woot: I don't know if that's allowed or I maybe cited for that... hope to hear your advice on that :)

+ Add a Comment