Allowing more than RN on name badge?

Nurses General Nursing

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Does your facility allow you to have designations other than RN on your name badge (such as RN, BSN/ RN, ccrn etc.)? our hospital does not allow this and it is a thorn in the side of some of the RN's I work with. there are a couple of nurses I know who have gone to hr and were able to sweet talked someone into making them a name badge with all the designations on it. one in particular was a new grad, hired the same time as 2 other new grads, who insisted that her name badge read "RN, BSN" and was able to have it changed.

Now, all the new grads in our ICU are BSN's because that's hospital hiring policy. the 2 other BSN new grads went to hr to have their name badges changed also, but weren't so lucky and were told "no" regarding additional designations. so . . .they went out and bought gold "BSN" tack pins and tacked the "BSN" pins onto their name badges (we aren't suppose to tack any pins onto our badges either).

Personally, I know I'm a BSN and I'm not concerned about having all the initials after my name. actually because I have two bachelors degrees I guess I could use bs biology, RN, BSN . . .now that would really confuse 'em! yet, there are others who think it is unfair not to recognize nursing educational achievements such as ccrn or cnrn etc. on the name badge.

Specializes in OB.
How about the concept of having our degrees and certifications on our namebadges, and that allows the public to ask, and be educated, concerning the educational and professional qualifications of the nurse at his or her bedside?

Maybe the public would be more interested and aware of just how qualified the individual at their bedside is. And we are not all interchangeable "widgets".

Perhaps they would then be educated and interested enough, to question the hospitals' decision to provide them with only lower educated, unlicensed assitive personnel, instead of licensed, EDUCATED professionals. And then we could educate them on how this makes a difference in the quality of their care. JMHO.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

this sounds like you are saying that the higher the title- the more qualified. Which turns this into a RN vs BSN war, which the moderator asked you not to do.

A BSN is no more qualifed to care for anyone than a ADN RN is.

The difference I think is not the BSN, it is what you are TRAINED for. Qualified to care for in my opinion, means that you as a Cardiac, or OB, or whatever, KNOW YOUR JOB as a REGISTERED NURSE who is trained in that area. Honestly, if I am on a vent in CCU, I could give a rip if you are a BSN, MSN, but you dang well better be able to understand the equipment, medications and parameters to keep me alive, and help me recover

Specializes in OB.
But the truth is, I'm a mom first. Nursing doesn't define me at all.

steph

:yeahthat:

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
People like that seem to have power trip issues from what I have seen...........

Tsk, tsk. I long to see the day when nurses can be proud of their educational acheivements without being accused of being "on a power trip" or "snobby". If someone wants to wear their credentials, whatever they may be I say go for it. In fact the sooner we value our education and our achievements, the sooner others will do so. It's no wonder many people think nurses are undereducated handmaidens.

My facility allows it.

SharonH, MSN RN

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Ours allows it if you want it. In our dept. we have specialty coordinatiors (general, vascular, gyn, ENT, dental, neuro, uro, ortho, cardiac) and they can have that put on their badge as well.

Example: Mine is

Marie (and hyphenated last names)

LPN

Perioperative Department/Ambulatory Surgery

Orthopedics Coordinator

(So many words, it looks like a brochure)

Once i graduate, the LPN will be replaced with "RN, ASN"

Specializes in Emergency, Outpatient.

The reason Magnet hospitals want it on the name tag is because it helps end the thinking that a "nurse is a nurse is a nurse" because as nurses we are different and we have different educational levels. It is no different than having CNA, LPN, RN on the badge in my opinion. I am proud of my education and I proudly wear my name tag with my terminal degree on it.

Tsk, tsk. I long to see the day when nurses can be proud of their educational acheivements without being accused of being "on a power trip" or "snobby". If someone wants to wear their credentials, whatever they may be I say go for it. In fact the sooner we value our education and our achievements, the sooner others will do so. It's no wonder many people think nurses are undereducated handmaidens.

My facility allows it.

SharonH, MSN RN

Ummmm I don't recall saying anyone didn't value the education of themselves or others...so I beg to differ with you on this................so no need to "tsk, tsk" me, I don't like being treated condescendingly thank you.........I have better and more important things to worry about than petty stuff like this.......and I never mentioned snobby either. People who are confident in their education/life etc etc don't go out of their way to advertise........sorry to burst the bubble......whoever wants their entire full credentials on their badge, coat, etc ..whatever that's great..knock yourselves out......not impressed really!:trout: reminds me of the people who need to have the big house, expensive cars and work themselves into the ground to pay for the "image" and never really enjoy their life because all they do is work to pay for all these things...............sorry but I know quite a few people in very respectable positions, some who are family who would agree with me on this one.........

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
whoever wants their entire full credentials on their badge, coat, etc ..whatever that's great..knock yourselves out......not impressed really!

No one said it was to impress anyone :rolleyes:

Adria 37 wrote:

The reason Magnet hospitals want it on the name tag . . .

??? I work at a Magnet hospital and our policy is "RN" designation only (see first post of this thread). Does anyone know if the ANCC/ANA has published any suggestions/opinions regarding educational/professional designations on name badges??

I have signed checks my name RN, just because you sign your name a hundred times a day it becomes habit so sometimes it isn't meant to be a power trip.

Ummm true ..I agree but this woman had the attitude to boot too, but if it wasn't for the attitude I wouldn't of said anything to her........so I know it's not "everyone" per say.......just the occasional one like this.........plus , who goes out to eat in a restaurant with their stethescope still around their neck, with the entire family in tow???? I know people forget stuff...but co;) me on!

It was a "snap out of it" moment!

No one said it was to impress anyone :rolleyes:

:deadhorse ........

Specializes in ICU, Pediatric, Psychiatric, Med/Surg.

I am wary of nurses who have more Initials behind their name than letters in the name itself. Lots of school teachers have more than four years of education, and they don't need a name tag with initials to validate what they do. I think just plain "RN" is sufficient for me personally. This is not to offend or inflame anyone else, of course.

If initials make ya feel good, then by all means, get some on the tag.

Specializes in Emergency, Outpatient.

Here is the ONS's position statement it is for oncology certified nurses and oncology certified NP's. I will look for the article about Magnet status and displaying education and credentials on name badges.

Healthcare consumers have a right to know the qualifications of those responsible for their care. Nurses with OCN®, CPON®, AOCN®, AOCNP, and AOCNS certification should inform patients of their certification and explain its meaning. Certified nurses should display their credentials on their name badges, and employers should support such display (ONS, 2005).

http://www.ons.org/publications/positions/CertificationPosition.shtml

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