Can I use my nickname vs my given name?

Specialties NP

Published

Hello,

I am a new FNP. I am having business cards made and some embroidery done. All my credentialing and employment paperwork has my given legal name. I live and practice in Texas, but I couldn't find anything on the Texas BON or on the AANP website about whether or not I can use "Roger" vs "Rogelio" (given name) on business cards and on my coat. They only address all the initials that follow the name. Can anyone offer insight? I haven't used my legal name since pre-k, when my teacher couldn't say my name, so everyone (even all my family) knows me only by my nickname.

Thank you in advance.

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I would follow your nickname by your given name in parentheses on things like business cards (or the other way around). You are then covered for those instances when your legal name is required.

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Thanks for your reply. I actually considered that, but I didn't know if it would be overkill. And speaking of overkill, my cards may read "MSN, APRN, FNP-C." Should I leave the "MSN" off on the coat?

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I don't think I would leave off the MSN on paperwork, but that is my take on it. I don't know about the coat. Somebody else can chime in on what is acceptable, or not, for your intended purposes.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

I've only seen APRN on coats

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I would only leave it off the coat, but cards and paperwork would all include the "MSN." Thanks again!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I would check with your state BON regs. For instance, in IL where I practice, all APNs are to use APN. Other states, say APRN.

As to embroidery and business cards, I use my nickname on both and there is no issue. When I sign scripts, I still use my nickname.

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Thanks for your reply. I verified that Texas requires "APRN" (a change made in 2014). I think I'm going to go ahead and use my nickname. My wife has been insisting that I change my legal name to "Roger" since nobody has called me "Rogelio" since pre-k. I may consider it :-/

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Your signature can be or look like whatever you would like. All of my life I have gone by my middle name on all but the most important legal work. Having said that, I use and introduce myself to patients and everyone as with my middle name. My email signatures have my middle name, my banking accounts are under my middle names, and a host of other things use my middle name. My real life signature is my middle initial and last name. For prescriptions and healthcare records now that my NPI, DEA, and so much else use my first name is merely my first, middle, and last initial and largely scrawled into meaningless, illegible scratching (for a reason).

Thus for embroider probably Roger For business cards, Roger. Your prescription pads will have to have your legal name printed on them so mine have First, Middle Initial, Last, APRN. You don't need all the alphabet soup. I chose APRN because my state says I have to have that affixed to my professional name usage.

If you're going to change your name do it before you apply for a Medicare number, et al. They take forever to process anything. The NPI is instaneous (I think) and DEA is surprisingly fast.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Different states have different requirements, I see all kinds of different alphabet soup after names. Legal names may be required by your BON. One local hospital badges have Nicknames in larger font, then legal name underneath with title, examleL MEG/Margaret, BSN,RN. Our script pads have to have legal names, not sure if you can sign with nicknames but the one provider at one clinic nickname & first name start with same letter. (Mike/Michael for example) My lab coats say, CNP as that is the official title in New Mexico, one coat says "Family Nurse Practitioner" in smaller font under my First, Last name. Sometimes I guess it depends on how much room and the style of the embroidery/practical purpose.

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Specializes in Urology.

You can use whatever name you prefer on your coat and your business cards. Business cards are not a legal document, they are a form of advertising. If you prefer to be called Roger and that is how you introduce yourself, put Roger on your business cards. The same goes for your lab coat, its just an embroidered name tag to let people know who you are. If you prefer Roger, get that on your coat too!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Even on scripts (yes, even controlled substances) I use my nickname. My "real" name is already printed on my eprescriptions and the controlled substance scripts have just my nickname on it.

No problems in 9+ years.

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