Using BSN credentials(not a BSN)

Nurses General Nursing

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It was recently brought to my attention that a charge nurse on our unit is using "BSN" credentials on her business card that is located on the counter with the managers etc cards for patients and their families to pick up. Sadly another nurse with a BSN pointed it out to me. What can be done about this?

I feel it is unethical at the least. How to approach this without drawing attention to myself? Is this a board reportable offense. I know the institution I work for would be very upset about this. Maybe they will explain it away as a "typo" but how do you just type in "BSN" and claim it to be a typo when having business cards made up???

dear fun fun:

how important is this to you, really?

i decide, every day of my life, if i'm gonna focus on what i have, and create peace and happiness, or focus on what i don't have, and create frustration. if spend time thinking about everything in this world that is violent, destructive, messed up, all i'm gonna do is make myself sick.

i agree with flyingscot. it could easily bite you in the butt. it could create even more conflict between you and the people you work with. is it worth it? i understand that you don't like the bsn on the cards. i'm sure that you can name 100 things at your hospital that you don't like. how much time are you gonna spend getting frustrated about this? how many minutes of your life are you gonna devote to being frustrated about the letters bsn on business cards?

in the next day, if you are awake for 16 hours, that is 960 minutes. once you spend them, you will never get them back. how many minutes do you want to devote to creating frustration and agitation? how many minutes do you want to devote to creating peace and happiness?

how important is it to you?

lisa ;-)

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stay out...... it kind of sounds like someone else wants you to do thier dirty work

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With all the "do-it-yourself" on-line BSN completion programs available now, it's certainly possible that she could have completed a BSN without people being aware of it. If you're all that concerned about it, you can certainly ask her directly (pleasantly, not accusingly!) If HR is just putting "BSN" on everyone's name tags or business cards, that needs to be stopped -- I'm sure they would have a BIIIIIGGGGG problem with people falsifying credentials when applying for a job; why would it be okay after someone is working there?

I am certainly not encouraging you to get any more involved in this than you already are, though.

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Why are you getting so upset over this since you are not the one "passed over for a promotion" ? When you started this thread you said "it" was "brought to your attention " like you were in a postion to do something about the issue was it brought to you as nurse gossip. What someone thinks they know. You seem to have your mind made up that this individual is portraying herself as a BSN . Unless you work for a facility that is not reputable it is doubtful that they would'nt know whether this person was a BSN or not. Again , I would encourage you to spaek with the nurse ask her what her schooling has been . I think its "fishy" that you so concerned over this for someone else. Perhaps the person "passed over" should fight their own battles.

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I know of a nurse who lied about completing her PhD. She lied to all of the faculty where she worked about defending her dissertation and had them calling her Dr. X. The Board of Nursing viewed that as falsification of her credentials and disciplined her for it. I'd suspect that using a BSN credential that is not earned would be viewed in the same way.

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I just wanted to see if anyone would let it go........I knew there would be flack from those thinking I have something to gain from this. I don't. I really hope it was a typo........but I am afraid to say anything to anyone about it. I did tell the person who brought it to my attention(as a friend) to file a report on her own if she was concerned. I know she is hurt about being passed over.........this is not going to remedy that.

I really think it was a mistake but I was just asking basically what you would do?

Option 1-Nothing =most popular opinion and I agree it will come with ramifications------

Question is...........is or will anyone be"harmed"......I dont think so really(i.e patients)

I think I will do nothing.......I dont think anyone is being harmed and I do feel that it will be corrected(i.e new cards will be printed up soon???)

I dont thing the public is harmed........just maybe the person who did not get the job with the BSN and other BSNs or others may be offened.

I wondered if it was against the law. I got a couple responses that the board may view it as a violation.......but who would go that far for this?

Option 2-Speak to the person about it. I thought about it but also thought what if someone has taken it further already(i.e reported it to board,etc) then the person might think I did it????

Option 3- Tell someone else(I am not that kind of person..........and would have no idea who that "person" should be. Should it be anonymous(and does that really exist these days) or more formal? I guess I dont like confrontation so the dont ask dont tell policy would be the easy way out..........

Lets have a vote..........1,2 or 3 or is there other opinions?

I am not going to spend anymore time other than to see what the general consensus is. I have made up my mind to let it go.

:yeah:

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Specializes in ER.

Honestly? I would do something about the situation but it would probably be talk with her first. She may she just as uncomfortable with the situation as everyone else. For all you know, she might start whining to you about how ridiculous she feels about the whole thing.

In terms of doing nothing, picture yourself being hammered away by an attorney in a courtroom about this issue. Imagine that it has nothing to do with the lawsuit but it is used to discredit you and your unit. Remember that history has shown us that people who do nothing end up with no one left to defend them. Keeping the peace is never the best course.

If nothing else, get another job when you can. If the hospital or its employees thinks its "ok" to go there then they are clearly inconsistent with your own views on the topic.

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What a quantum leap...find another job? Because BSN shows up on a business card of someone who does not have BSN?

Hmmmmmmmmm..........that is not remotely what I am asking here. I am asking what I should do.......Nothing it appears from those that have the most logical responses(perhaps I am a shrinking violet??)Ok thanks to all who responded.........I am not going anywhere..............

She knows the cards have the wrong credentials........so lets not all act like Polly Anna.............

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Specializes in ER.
What a quantum leap...find another job? Because BSN shows up on a business card of someone who does not have BSN?

Hmmmmmmmmm..........that is not remotely what I am asking here. I am asking what I should do.......Nothing it appears from those that have the most logical responses(perhaps I am a shrinking violet??)Ok thanks to all who responded.........I am not going anywhere..............

She knows the cards have the wrong credentials........so lets not all act like Polly Anna.............

Its hardly quantum. If you work for an organization that does not share your values, you will end up unhappy.

It sounds like you have already decided to do nothing and that you think this is most logical. Its completely illogical to me so we respectfully disagree. :specs:

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Maybe she got her BSN online. There are several nurses that I work with that I thought were ASN but were actually BSN. You maybe wrong on this. Everyone does not share their education. As a matter of fact. I got accepted in a

RN-BSN program May 2010 and I have only told 2 people on my job and one of them was my boss.

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Why would you even consider or bring up the issue of reporting her to the board without even going to her first?? I'm sure she worked very hard for her RN and to have someone try to jeopardize that is not right. You and your friend with the "BSN" who brought this issue to light should either drop it or discuss it with her first before even thinking of going any further with it. Why does it bother you so much in the first place? Further more, your friend wanting to report her sounds malicious. Sounds like she is making a big deal out this because she got passed up for the position as charge nurse. I don't understand why others hurt eachother to even go so far to bringing up the subject of reporting her to the board. Not cool. Karma......

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