Is it RN,BSN or BSN,RN

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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This is silly and I should know, but I don't. I just graduated and passed boards. How are supposed to write your credentials, if you are an RN with BSN?

Thanks ?

I know this thread was started years ago but a BSN does matter. Try getting a job in NY without a BSN, you won't. Try advancing your career without it, you won't. Nurses should not settle for having less education than physical therapists, social workers, and other health care professionals. It is true that an experienced nurse knows more than a new nurse with letters after his or her name, but the education is different. I can speak to this having gone through LPN school, ADN school, BSN school, and now a master's program. I have to say going back to school has made me love my profession again, given me a sense of pride, and has opened the door to new possiblilites.

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Its almost funny to read this now, because people who say having a BSN was a waste of time are sooooooooooooo wrong because NOW they want most nurses to have Bachelors! My best friend has an Associates and was told by a prospective employer to go back to school because soon it would be necessary for nurse to have BSN, so def not a waste of time! And ANY nursing program is hard work so stop belittling your fellow nurses!! Nursing is stressful enough and we get very little appreciation as it is, so for fellow nurses to say your hard earned degree was a waste of time is very ignorant and sad!! It was such a simple question and so many got off topic post about being pretenious, ha, not even. It does not matter, yes it does in certain cases, etc. Im very LATE but Congrats to the lady who posted this questions!!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

At least a dumb diploma nurse like me can figure out that the actual topic of the thread was how to list your credentials when signing your name. :uhoh3:

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I would sign RN BSN. I am really upset with some of these posts. I worked hard as hell for my BSN and am very proud of it. I do agree there are AMAZING ADN nurses as well, but BSN nurses are not any worse at bedside care. In the end we are all nurses, but BSN is a higher degree. You worked for this degree, sign your name with it. Be proud!!!!!

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I sign correspondence as Suesquatch, RN, BSN. Anything clinical is simply Suesquatch, RN.

I do find the comment that the BSN only prepares one to be a pencil-pusher inaccurate. However, only in nursing is one proud of having the minimum qualification - a bachelor's - that the professions with which we would like to be compared consider standard for entry to even begin studying.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I believe you use the credentials you got first, first...and on down the line. So, I'm Whispera, BSEd, BSN, RN, MSN, CNS, APRN-BC. I think it's a whole bunch of alphabet soup though and lots of places only allow one credential, so pick the one you are most proud of and use that--that's my motto anyway! I'm tempted to be Whispera, EIEIO, but so far I've restrained myself...

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I've understood it to be our academic credentials first then your license, e.g. MSN, RN.

Specialty certs. come after the license, e.g. MSN, RN, CCRN.

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Whichever you want, it doesn't really matter ? but I prefer BSN, RN because i got my BSN first before my RN.

To everyone:

I agree, it doesn't really matter what educational level you get as long as you're an RN or somehow, a professional with title. BUT think of this, aren't you proud of something you achieved for yourselves? Like being a Registered Nurse? What doesn't make you proud/satisfied, can make others happy. Let her do whatever she wants cause after all, it's her name and degree. Plus, she's just asking what to put first ;)

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LOL I agree with you.. Very true! Instead of congratulating her and giving her the right answer, they still have time to bash her. Bless them. :))

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Specializes in Med-Surg; Telemetry; School Nurse pk-8.

Like Sue, I sign MinnieMom RN on clinical notes, but my resume and letters are signed Minnie Mom RN, BSN. Maybe someday it'll be RN, MSN.... or maybe MinnieMom PNP. I plan to keep learning until I receive my terminal degree, which will read:

Minnie Mom

R.I.P.

Get it??? Ha! Terminal degree!!!

Some days I really amuse myself.

Congrats to the OP. As old as this thread is, she's no longer a novice nurse!

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I realize I'm late to this also, but in response to the posters who said BSN sounds pretentious - where I live there are several very prominent hospitals (University of Colorado and Children's Colorado) who will only hire RN's with a BSN. So in the current competitive market for new grads, I feel it is most certainly NOT presumptuous, but almost a necessity to put that in cover letters, resumes, etc. I wouldn't sign that in a clinical setting, but in professional correspondence and trying to find a job it can be quite important. Odd that one poster felt the BSN is just a waste of time, since nationally ranked hospitals think it's important :)

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Academia has decided the convention mentioned here a few times. Not sure it's comparable to that used in other professions, and thus totally legit.

I personally dislike the "convention." And because any time I sign my professional name it's in a nursing or medical context, I believe the RN should predominate.

If I write an article, I'd follow the practice of the magazine or other publication. If they leave it to me, I'd sign it Havin'AParty, RN, MBA.

The RN is the real qualification.

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