BSN RN & Certifications not allowed on my badge: I am outraged!

[Simba2241]

After much hard work, dedication, and sacrifice I obtained my BSN RN in 2004. Today I walked out of an orientation at a major Raleigh, NC hospital because I was told why I asked why RN's could not proudly display their education and credentials "WE do not recognize titles here. There are no titles" I was outraged and hurt. In educating the orientation administrative person (she was not a nurse) I explained that having to meet strict criteria for certification and education levels are not a title! She looked annoyed. SO I left.

Education and credentials are not easily obtained. They are representations of a RN's commitment to his/her craft. They are indications of the sacrifice and hard work she/ he has put in to go the extra mile. I am in no way negating an ADN. ON the contrary, ADN's make just as much of a sacrifice (However...in all honesty.... you will never hear an ADN voicing concern about not being able to display her ADN...sorry if I have offended any ADN's but the truth is the truth!).

When I handed HR my resignation letter and explained why I am resigning after only 2 days of orientation she looked annoyed and asked : "What does it matter. All of you are RN's and you all do the same thing" I just looked at her and shook my head.

I cannot understand an organization that BANS your right to display your hard work. What right does that organization have?

Needless to say I left another hospital for a minor pay increase at this facility. I regret that decision. I told HR I would rather tolerate a few cents less and have the HARD EARNED RIGHT TO DIAPLY MY CREDNTIALS than to work for an organization who tells me I CAN NOT DISPLAY MY CREDENTIALS>

Shame on you Wake Med! You will never achieve magnet status if you continue to disregard the hard work of your RN's!

Sandra BSN RN

[hotmama2be]

Whats the difference if a RN has bachelors degree or a associates I find it offensive that you have such an issue with titles its like you are suggesting that a nurse with a bachelors degree is superior over a ADN RN. They do the same job and scope and test. If you feel that you need to have everyone know that you have BSN degree then maybe you should have it tatooed to your forehead. That would solve the problem right quick now wouldn't it . I think your decision to walk out on a job because you can't have BSN on your badge is foolish.

[jzkfel]

Re: RN credentials/edu not allowed on my badge: I am outraged!

Calliotter...in additon as far as having a "hard time in the workforce" It is that attitude that continues to keep RNs from turuy being recognized for the hard work that we do. As RNs we do not have to "punch anyone's clock" There are soooooooooo many opportunites out here but I am assumiong you are probaly an older RN stuck in the old archaic way of doing things. I feel sorry for you! As RNs we have so much power and we easily give our power away to a paycheck for a job we may not like. Sorry...but I was taught in my BSN program to "Stand up for what you believe in" We were required to write a Socialization paper....We were required to do a research paper...including statistics etc. In other words...our bar was raised pretty high....now a hospital comes along and tells me that it means nothing.

I DETERMINE MY DESTINY! I HAVE A GREAT WORK HISTORY!

Someone once said "If you don't stand up for something you will fall for anything"

I don't know, Simba. I don't think a hospital's policy on badges reflects how they feel about your education. I have an associate's, bachelors, and a masters degree. I don't really care to display them on my badge. I work with kids in post surgery, trauma, and burn care, and my patients really could care less what degrees I have. They do judge me on the care I give them.

I think you should take a look at how you judge your colleagues. You seem pretty reactionary.

[sharpeimom]

one more thought --

having a b.s.n. or a m.s.n. (or whatever) and working mostly in psych, did nothing to shield me from having to clean up p**p or barf. that was on a floor nurse, charge nurse and supervisory level.

guess you never quite escape it! but that's ok because i knew it was a part of the job when i signed on and i have never ever felt i was above any task i carried out.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

[afranklin]

If my nurse was caring, patient, kind and had an excellent bedside manner,

I would Not care if she were a BSN with the whole alphabet behind her name, but

then, that's just my opinion.

I hope and pray that I will remember that yes, after all the hard work, countless

tests, inexplainably difficult teachers, etc, I will remember that my number one

priority is to make sure my patients know me as a good nurse; not by my credentials.

[RNKel, ASN, RN]

It will matter when you obtain your BSN. There is soooooooooo much hard work...research papers...statistics..socialization paper...grant writing....etc...many areas that as an ADN you would have never been exposed to. As I stated earlier it simply motivates me to get my MSN/MBA and start my own business. I will encourage my staff to continue to craft their field and proudly display thier hard work. Thanks to all for motivating me so much!

I gotta tell ya... I have ZERO interest in grant-writing, etc. I am finishing my ADN in 51 days. I'll be an RN. That's what will be on my ID badge. I'm more than proud to have either "title" on my badge.

And FTR, you can ask any nurse/doctor/hospital employee within a 40 mile radius of here which nursing grad they'd rather hire and/or work with: the ADN grad (the program I'm in), or the BSN grad from the school near me. It's ALWAYS the ADN grad and they give a multitude of reasons. And to compare the two programs, we ADN's get a lot more clinical hours and experience than they do. They do more paperwork. We hit the floor prepared; they do not. I could go on, but won't.

Keep in mind, I am only speaking of the two programs here, I know nothing about other programs.

[RNKel, ASN, RN]

Kaiser pays $2.00 more per hour for BSN.. organizations are now realizing and many are coming aboard differentiating pay according to credentials degree. I have no prblem with "wiping buns and pushing meds" I began my career as a CNA and and it was a nurse who motivated me to "reach for the sky" Sorry you feel you are just a RN who gives meds and does perineal care.......WE ARE NURSES! WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! The American Nurse Credentialing Center is in the process of establhing guidelines for Magnet status among hospitals......NURSING IS EVOLVING!

Our hospital pays a whopping quarter more per hour if you have a BSN. LOL

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i know having BSN on your badge is important to you, i understand your compassion...... being a nurse is all about the care and kindness you give to your patients, just like sharpie stated above. ... you can have all the letters on your badge , you have all the degrees on your walls , why you could have BSN tattooed on your forehead. ... what nursing comes down to is the standard of care of your patients.. all your degrees mean nothing if you can't step beyond that title and take care of those people who need you.

i have been a nurse for a long time.. and i have seen many a nurse with more letters on their badge not worth their weight in enema bags..... i know working for a BSN is hard work , i also know ADN and LPN's all work hard for their education. you can't discount anyone in this business, we are all worth alot to our patients.

[hotmama2be]

Sharpeimom!!!

You are wonderful I can tell you are true example of a dedicated RN , regardless of what degree you have obtained. You do what is required of us in this profession with a humble heart :bowingpur We should all have this frame of mind!!!

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

I personally am with the "there are bigger fish to fry" crew, but if having your credentials displayed is that important to you, then by all means find a facility that does that. My issue is that it almost seems that you want your BSN displayed on your badge so that it is known that you are "above" some of your fellow ADN co-workers. You were hired as a staff nurse to do the same job as every other RN they hired whether they are ADN, BSN, MSN.

I have a BSN and work at a magnet hospital. I'm proud of my accomplishments and I do plan to further my education. While I do feel that my BSN has prepared me to move on to a Master's degree, I DO NOT think it has made me a better nurse than an ADN prepared RN. It all comes down to experience, the care given to patients, and being a valuable member of the healthcare team.

[RNKel, ASN, RN]

Well the American Nurse Credentialling Center CARES! As a matter of fact...magnet status is reflected in the number of BSN...credentialed nurses! Does anyone here read or subscribe to nursing journals?

Why do you find it necessary to resort to this sort of behavior?

[Cindy-san]

Meh, my hosp gives my BSN it's recognition in the proper place, my paycheck.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

gee kaiser pays $2.00 more an hour for my BSN? what would i do with all that extra money? gee whiz i really am missing out. ... well... all that extra money would just put me in a higher tax bracket anyway... heaven knows i pay enough in taxes allready.... lol