FULL NAME required on name tag???

Nurses Activism

Published

VA: State changes name-tag policy for nurses

Date published: Mon, 07/22/2002

The Associated Press

WFLS News

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2002/072002/07222002/1027344324

(Richmond-AP) -- The state wants nurses to wear name tags with

their first and last names. Some hospitals have allowed nurses in certain departments - usually psychiatric units or emergency rooms - to go without last names on their badges, out of concern that nurses could be stalked.

The Virginia Board of Nursing voted last week to require both first and last names, along with the appropriate licensing designation.

One board member said patients want to know who is taking care of them. But Susan Ward, vice president and general counsel for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, said there are concerns that the change could put some nurses at risk.

The rule change is not final until a 60-day public comment

period is completed.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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See info in SBON newletter, pg. 4 re Board of Nursing Regulation 18VAC 90-20-35.

http://www.dhp.state.va.us/nursing/newsletters/Spring2002.pdf

Registered at the Town Hall section of VA to email concerns re this legislation.

The Virginia Department of Planning & Budget has designed a Regulatory Town Hall for anyone interested in the proposal of regulations or meetings of regulatory boards. http://www.townhall.state.va.us/

VA Board of Nursing

6606 West Broad St., 4th Fl.

Richmond, VA 23230-1717

Phone: (804) 662-9909

Fax: (804) 662-9512

Complaints: (800) 533-1560

E-mail: [email protected]

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

We are given the choice to have full name or not. I choose not. It's a privacy issue w/me and in most cases,they need NOT to know it. Of course, my title is there, along my first name. what do they need MY last name for? don't need it there in order to conduct myself professionally and be treated as such. JMO.

We all have to have our full names on our name tags, but....everyone covers them up with stickers, or badger clips, etc.

Took care of a patient in ICU once who swore he/she was going to kill me. I know where you work/ I'll find where you live and "I will kill you *****". I have absolutely no doubt this person would have done just that if not for legal/psychiatric intervention. All the things wrong in this persons life, were in their mind my responsibility.

The patients in the ER and on the psych floors, go to every other floor in the hospital too.

THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION POSSIBLE! My last name does not need to be on my name tag to encourage respect.

I think the only people who would have a real interest in my last name are the ones with an agenda.

Specializes in Hospice/Homehealth/Homecare.

I have worked in both types of places. The thing is that our names, titles, addresses and disciplinary record are public record (at least in MA). I see no reason to have to show your last name on your badge if anyone can get it if they really want it. Let them do the research. I have done psych and substance abuse and do not want it to be that easy for someone to just show up at my house. If they have to go through the state, at least there might be some kind of record that they requested the info.

Ok, here's what I don't get about peple who don't want last names on their tags, so please enlighten me:

1. These crazies you're worried about know where you work. They can just follow you home from the hospital to stalk you, even without knowing your last name.

2. Patients here have the right to see their charts after filling out a form. In the charts, we all sign with our last names (Tracy RN would be a little vague on my unit). Sooooo, whether it's on the tag or not any loonie I treat can find out my last name. Maybe this isn't the same where you work?

3. Why don't female doctors have the same concerns? They are just as vulnerable as female nurses, but I have never heard one of them introduce themselves by their first name only....

Personally, I get offended at people who want to call me by my first name, but want me to call them Dr.____. I find it a little insulting, so I always introduce myself with my last name, and I let anyone who wants to be called Dr____ or Mr_____ call me Nurse_____. If they want to be on a first name basis, I use my first name too.

I agree with mopsi. We should go back to the use of more formal names.

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