Why do Nurse's wear there degree on there name badges?

[Medic_Kev]

I have never had anyone give me a straight answear to this question, Why do nurses wear there degree on the badge uniforms? I see few other people in the hospital setting that do it except for nurses, why is this? Is it an ego thing? I would understand if you were qualified for various postions ie RN, EMT-P, RRT, but the whole concept of wearing your degree seems to have a I'm better than you attitude. Personnally myself being a military man I find the postion you hold carries more clout than your degree. I have seen ADN's as Supervisors and MSN's doing floor work. Does the degree vs the certification(CEN,CCN) make a difference? As a pre- hospital care worker when I go in the ER or up to a floor the only thing I ever notice is that the higher the degree the less likely that person is to assist you, not always but more often than not this is the case. I would welcome any feed back on this. Thanks Kev

[liberalrn]

Couldn't read thru all the posts, this is an active thread! Here's my take: I think the badges should stipulate LPN, CNA, RN, Supervisor, whatever the position is. Frankly the massive alphabet soup out there confuses me, can't imagine that the pts are better informed or really care. "Registered" used to be important (and still is) because for a long time in our hx, anyone could call themselves a nurse (midwives had the same trouble), So the stipulation of Registered was crucial. Seems we haven't come very far from that!

I knew of a nurse who had BSN,RN,CCRN, and God knows what else on her badge--lol asked her why if she had so much learning was she still emptying the bedpans! True story, intended to be humorous........:)

[Belmont_Murse]

I don't think it's an ego thing, rather a pride thing.

Aren't pride and ego very similar? Pride feeds your ego...

Anyways, putting your credentials onto a badge shows your professionally recognized training and the certifications you have earned. Differing backgrounds in a workplace ideally yield better results for a patient as there is a shared knowledge base. BSN's bring a different perspective than ADN's. Neither is necessarily "better" but they are "distinctive. One who is qualified to be something should have proof and display it when providing patient care. We work in health care facilites where everyone looks quite similar to outsiders/patients who may have dec. LOC. Showing who we are allows us to deliver care that is trusted by the end recipient. At a minimum, it should say "RN".

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

I agree with what liberalrn said back in 2003: "badges should stipulate LPN, CNA, RN, Supervisor, whatever the position is....the massive alphabet soup out there confuses me..."

The abbreviations mean nothing to patients: Nothing, nada, zip. They also do not understand CNA or PCT or whatever abbreviation fits your institution's job title for that position.

One hospital where I did a clinical started issuing nurses badges without last names. I think it would help more if nurses were accountable to their patients by being identifiable by FIRST AND LAST names. As nurses we know quite a lot about our patients. I think they deserve to at least know our names.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

Our first names are LARGE on our badges...however the docs don't have theirs like that. Hmm. I have my degrees/certifications related to nursing only on mine.

[GilaRRT]

Aren't pride and ego very similar? Pride feeds your ego...

Anyways, putting your credentials onto a badge shows your professionally recognized training and the certifications you have earned. Differing backgrounds in a workplace ideally yield better results for a patient as there is a shared knowledge base. BSN's bring a different perspective than ADN's. Neither is necessarily "better" but they are "distinctive. One who is qualified to be something should have proof and display it when providing patient care. We work in health care facilites where everyone looks quite similar to outsiders/patients who may have dec. LOC. Showing who we are allows us to deliver care that is trusted by the end recipient. At a minimum, it should say "RN".

Thread of the living dead. I hope you realise you are replying to a thread that was last active about seven years ago?

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

In the military, why do the different ranks wear ribbons and stripes on their uniform?

Because they have EARNED them.

Thus, the same rationale in the hospital....if you earned the degree, then you have the right to show the public, and coworkers, what you worked hard to earn.

[RN-ing, BSN, MSN, NP]

I agree with what liberalrn said back in 2003: "badges should stipulate LPN, CNA, RN, Supervisor, whatever the position is....the massive alphabet soup out there confuses me..."

The abbreviations mean nothing to patients: Nothing, nada, zip. They also do not understand CNA or PCT or whatever abbreviation fits your institution's job title for that position.

One hospital where I did a clinical started issuing nurses badges without last names. I think it would help more if nurses were accountable to their patients by being identifiable by FIRST AND LAST names. As nurses we know quite a lot about our patients. I think they deserve to at least know our names.

Agree with you about the abbreviations; however, last names on badges is a safety issue. Google yourself sometime and see what comes up. Sometimes you can get an address or even a phone number. Most places refrain from last names because we sometimes take care of prisoners, but I ask you this, can patient visitors be social deviants that have not yet been caught? And also, have you ever been stalked? I have and it is a total violation of your personal life.

Your patient will be just fine if they don't know your last name.

[BanoraWhite]

At my old facility we had RN and PCA (personal Care Attendent) on our badges. It was for our staff, residents and families of residents so they knew who they should be directing a question to, and who should be providing what care (for example an agency nurse could see whether a PCA was giving drugs when they weren't supposed to, or a PCA could locate a RN to ask specific questions).

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I'd like to have my badge read:

emtb2rn RN ROTFLMAO

but my boss won't let me.....

[theatredork]

I'd like to have my badge read:

emtb2rn RN ROTFLMAO

but my boss won't let me.....

:rotfl:

SondheimGeek, RN, LOLLERCOPTER Pilot

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

...last names on badges is a safety issue. Google yourself sometime and see what comes up. Sometimes you can get an address or even a phone number. Most places refrain from last names because we sometimes take care of prisoners, but I ask you this, can patient visitors be social deviants that have not yet been caught? And also, have you ever been stalked? I have and it is a total violation of your personal life. Your patient will be just fine if they don't know your last name.

I disagree that stalking is a safety issue, for nurses. Can you point me to any research that indicates otherwise? I think this is just a paranoia tinged over-reaction in our society.

It is possible that I still live, mentally, back in those good old innocent olden tymes and don't fully appreciate the dangers of this brave new world. Doctors go by their first and last names, and I think most other health professionals do. I prefer to trust people and treat them with respect and deal with whatever consequences may arise. For me, providing my first and last name is professional behavior. You say the patient will be just fine but I don't agree. I think it shows a lack of respect to hide one's identity.

I have Googled myself and not much comes up; my town, yes, but not my address and not my phone number. I take what I consider to be reasonable precautions when I enter the public space that is the Internet. Just like I don't go posting my name and number on phone poles or public bulletin boards (though I might at my local supermarket) I also don't give this information out willy nilly online. I don't include it on Amazon reviews I may write or any other public forum. I don't have a landline phone in my name so I don't come up in any online directories, but my husband regularly checks and has his listing removed. There are only 3 people in the country (and maybe the world) with my last name, so I'm easy to find that way, if you can spell it correctly.

I could be surrounded by social deviants! They aren't marked, so how do you know who is and who isn't?

[RN-ing, BSN, MSN, NP]

I disagree that stalking is a safety issue, for nurses. Can you point me to any research that indicates otherwise? I think this is just a paranoia tinged over-reaction in our society.

It is possible that I still live, mentally, back in those good old innocent olden tymes and don't fully appreciate the dangers of this brave new world. Doctors go by their first and last names, and I think most other health professionals do. I prefer to trust people and treat them with respect and deal with whatever consequences may arise. For me, providing my first and last name is professional behavior. You say the patient will be just fine but I don't agree. I think it shows a lack of respect to hide one's identity.

I have Googled myself and not much comes up; my town, yes, but not my address and not my phone number. I take what I consider to be reasonable precautions when I enter the public space that is the Internet. Just like I don't go posting my name and number on phone poles or public bulletin boards (though I might at my local supermarket) I also don't give this information out willy nilly online. I don't include it on Amazon reviews I may write or any other public forum. I don't have a landline phone in my name so I don't come up in any online directories, but my husband regularly checks and has his listing removed. There are only 3 people in the country (and maybe the world) with my last name, so I'm easy to find that way, if you can spell it correctly.

I could be surrounded by social deviants! They aren't marked, so how do you know who is and who isn't?

My point was this...why is it not okay (according to upper management at my facility) to put my first and last name on the board if my pt is a prisoner, but its okay to do it with other patients? And I'm not really concerned about patients, more about their visitors because we have adopted a 24/7 anyone and everyone visitation policy that has brought some questionable people out of the woodwork and into my workplace.

I'm being paranoid because of my past and that will never change, sorry 'bout it!

P.S. I treat all of my patients with respect, despite whether I tell them my real name or that I'm Patsy Cline. If they ask, and I'm comfortable, I will tell them and it won't affect the care I give them (sorry, no research to support that, just personal experience).