How do you protect your identity?

Nurses General Nursing

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Just curious what methods you all use in order to protect yourself while at work?

I'll start:

I try to keep my last name secret to my patients and block out my last name on my badge as well.

About the licensing thing: I can get anyone's license number in my State; all I need is their names! However, a license number isn't going to get you employed: you have to show YOUR original license. My employer has a photocopy in my personnel folder, I have the original. If my license were to show up in anyone ELSE'S employment folder (read: identity theft) seems I'd have a nice lawsuit against my employer for letting that piece of paper out.

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I'd be flattered if any patient was even taking notice of my name. I don't think they are interested in the least.

I'm thinking back to the last few times I went to hospital, and I can't remember the names of the nurses who gave care, badges present and all.

Why just nurses, then? Would the doctors need pseudonyms?

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your license to practice is a matter of public record. so, your name and address are available online thru the professional licensing agency in your state.

abuse shelters recommend that a p.o. box be given as your address.

and did you know that google has your number? just key in your number and you will see your name, address, and a link to a map to YOUR house (unless your number is unlisted).

you can request google to remove your number.

as far as identity theft, i signed up for lifelock. i like it so far. i certainly feel more comfortable knowing that no one can steal my identity - and, if they should manage to run up a credit card bill or whatever, i'm covered.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

I never really thought I'd need to be concerned about my identity at work. My badge has full name, our paychecks come to the floor with our mailing address on them. Theyare kept in a safe place but we all grab them and hand them out to each other.

Are we supposed to be concerned about patients or our coworkers...or both?? I've never given this any thought,has any one been stalked or harrassed by a pt or coworker?? I've never seen it

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I never really thought I'd need to be concerned about my identity at work. My badge has full name, our paychecks come to the floor with our mailing address on them. Theyare kept in a safe place but we all grab them and hand them out to each other.

Are we supposed to be concerned about patients or our coworkers...or both?? I've never given this any thought,has any one been stalked or harrassed by a pt or coworker?? I've never seen it

It may depend on where you work. In a big hospital where there is alot of staff turnover, travelers, and agencies nurses would be a situation in which I'd be more careful. I work in a small rural hospital and we have had a nurse stalked by an agency nurse so you really never know.

I've been an agency nurse so I'm not saying all agency nurses or all travelers are people to look out for it's just that you don't know them as opposed to people that you work with day in and day out.

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Our hospital actually told us not to cover our last name. The solution is to wear the badge backwards so patients don't see the front of the badge. Then you can act like it is backward by mistake.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
our first and last names are on our badges, along with title. i introduce myself by my first name, but i too have an unusual last name and when patients see it, they frequently know my family. and it's never been a bad thing, as i have a good family ;)

have never had any issues with my name being "known" to my patients.

i've been stalked -- both by former patients and by staff. i'm glad that's never happened to you, but you may want to consider the possibility, especially if you work in er or psych.

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the only one of my nurses I have a decent amout of info on is one of my OR nurses. She had treated me so well that I sent her a letter at the hospital. I sent it to

Colleen (the OR nurse who took care of Meg "last name" on "date")

I then got a christmas card from her that year with her full name and home address. We now exchange christmas cards each year. I personally would not do anything, and appreciated her care and wanted to tell her origanally.

Now I have actually seen her once since the surgery. I was waiting for surgery and she was in the waiting room because her daughter was having surgery. Even in the stressful time in her life she took time to show her care. So I now exchange cards with her and am happy that she felt confident enough to give me her address.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Are we supposed to be concerned about patients or our coworkers...or both?? I've never given this any thought,has any one been stalked or harrassed by a pt or coworker?? I've never seen it

I have been followed in the store before by former pts who have been under suicide watch, as well as those I have helped restrain in our MHU, but nothing has ever come of it. My training has kept me ahead of the game so far, and I always have an exit. Never like to sit with my back to people or exits in restaurants or where ever I may be.

I do like MiketheRNs comment. Great idea, but the badges we wear are on reels, so the badge turns whenever it feels like doing so.

Thanks to all who have posted, this is getting interesting!

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My pts have a right to know in whose hands they're committing their very lives, and they have the right to check my credentials on their own at my BoN website. After all, I have access to every bit of private information on them. Should trust be a one-way street?

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My pts have a right to know in whose hands they're committing their very lives, and they have the right to check my credentials on their own at my BoN website. After all, I have access to every bit of private information on them. Should trust be a one-way street?

Do you know the names of all your airline pilots, bus drivers, and rollercoaster operators?

Your patients do not need to know your name unless they are harmed. That's why you sign your nursing notes.

As for knowing patients' names, nurses need to know their patients' names so they know they are treating the correct patient.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Our hospital actually told us not to cover our last name. The solution is to wear the badge backwards so patients don't see the front of the badge. Then you can act like it is backward by mistake.

No offense intended but that makes them sound too cheap to re-issue new name tags. :uhoh3:

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