Nurse volunteers: Do you sign "RN"?

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Hi, all,

I volunteer at a healthcare facility, although not as a nurse (i.e., I don't perform licensed nursing tasks, although I do assist with basic pt care such as repositioning, baths or feeding). The agency keeps track of volunteer hours, therefore we fill in a sheet where we record the time spent with a pt and our observations and describe what we did for the pt and/or family member.

I have been signing my full name without my "RN" title. I have a current RN license, however I am not employed at this time (I hope my volunteer work will lead to paid employment once the hiring freeze ends). I would like to sign my name on the volunteer time sheet with "RN", but don't know if this would be appropriate. (Among other things, it might reassure lay volunteers why I do some things they would not be expected to do. When pts are in the facility for longer periods of time, several volunteers will make entries on the same time sheet; most of them talk or sit with pts and/or families.)

Those of you who volunteer and fill out similar paperwork: Do you sign with your nursing title?

Thanks for any info,

DeLana :)

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

It's your license and it applies to you no matter where you are. Just like your degree credentials apply no matter where you are. You can sign RN, BSN, (any credentials you have earned) on your bank statements, credit card receipts and greeting cards if you want to. You can, but you don't have to.

The reason that we sign our credentials is to officially state that we are licensed to perform the tasks which we are performing. I would only sign RN to a volunteer sheet if I were volunteering as a nurse. Since you aren't performing tasks that require a license, it isn't necessary to specify you are an RN. It's really not the other volunteers business why you are doing different tasks than thu are. However, that's just my opinion. If you feel it's important to put your RN initials in there, you have every right to do so.

[wee_oneRN]

I would like to sign my name on the volunteer time sheet with "RN", but don't know if this would be appropriate. (Among other things, it might reassure lay volunteers why I do some things they would not be expected to do.

This section worries me! Even though you are licensed to perform tasks out of the scope of a layman volunteer, you are not covered by the hospital's malpractice insurance. Please be very careful about the tasks you choose, and good luck with your job hunt.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

This section worries me! Even though you are licensed to perform tasks out of the scope of a layman volunteer, you are not covered by the hospital's malpractice insurance. Please be very careful about the tasks you choose, and good luck with your job hunt.

I know, and that's why I maintain my own insurance coverage. And yes, I am very careful (especially as I'm also not covered by workers' comp).

Thanks!

DeLana

[grantz]

Hi, all,

I volunteer at a healthcare facility, although not as a nurse (i.e., I don't perform licensed nursing tasks, although I do assist with basic pt care such as repositioning, baths or feeding). The agency keeps track of volunteer hours, therefore we fill in a sheet where we record the time spent with a pt and our observations and describe what we did for the pt and/or family member.

I have been signing my full name without my "RN" title. I have a current RN license, however I am not employed at this time (I hope my volunteer work will lead to paid employment once the hiring freeze ends). I would like to sign my name on the volunteer time sheet with "RN", but don't know if this would be appropriate. (Among other things, it might reassure lay volunteers why I do some things they would not be expected to do. When pts are in the facility for longer periods of time, several volunteers will make entries on the same time sheet; most of them talk or sit with pts and/or families.)

Those of you who volunteer and fill out similar paperwork: Do you sign with your nursing title?

Thanks for any info,

DeLana :)

yes i did.. I am also planning to put MANc on it but I'd rather not because I might not be accepted if I put MANc on it because the chief nurse might be threatened that I will replaced her after my volunteerism :lol2:

[mghammond82]

I don't see why not. If the facility knows your Registered throught the states BON then you should have the right to put your title after your name whether or not you work there for free or pay. You earned that title, and should use it proudly. If you think it will cause a problem just talk to the Director of Nursing for that facility and see what he/she has to say about it.

[grantz]

Thank you dude I'm just kidding. Maybe I'll put MAN on my name after I finish my Masters degree.. :)

[Wabi Sabi, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't do it. You are there as a regular volunteer, not a nurse volunteer. I rarely sign my name with a R.N. unless it is at work or there is an absolute reason to do so.

[grantz]

why not? It will lead to faster promotion if you have masters..

[tathmrn]

Personally, I would hesitate to sign my name RN if i am not working in that capacity for legal reasons. I agree with checking with the manager, too.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the responses, which helped me decide that it's probably best not to use my RN title on my volunteer reports; there's always a chance that someone may want to sue anyone with a license who was even remotely involved in a pt's care, and I sure don't need to make myself a target for some lawyer casting a wide net (at least not make it easy for them).

I miss signing RN, but I'll best limit myself to do it only during paid employment as a nurse.

Again, thanks.

DeLana

[bebot_19]

This section worries me! Even though you are licensed to perform tasks out of the scope of a layman volunteer, you are not covered by the hospital's malpractice insurance. Please be very careful about the tasks you choose, and good luck with your job hunt.

This is what I am worried about as I look into volunteering. I am licensed to practice, and currently unemployed. And thought that volunteering may open opportunities for employment as well.