I am fully aware that it is illegal for one who is not a nurse to refer to him/herself as a nurse, but what about the credentials of BSN vs ADN?
A little background, I am an Associate's Degree Registered Nurse currently and will finish my BSN in May. I had a jacket embroidered to say my name and then RN, BSN... the embroidering took over a month for my appointment time to get set up and the cost to do it is the same no matter how many letters are applied.
If anyone asks, I would tell them that I am not yet a BSN for another four months and that I had the BSN preemptively applied to save time and money, but am I breaking any rules by doing so? I tried to Google the topic and looked through my institution's policy/procedure manual with no result so was wondering if any of you other nurses had some input on the matter.
It is a reportable offense. Just dont wear it yet. Congrats and be proud of your accomplishments. Nothing wrong with displaying your degree. You earned it!
OP, when you post on a public forum, you will receive varied opinions. Many posters have provided good advice. You do not own this thread. Take away what you will.
In answer to your question, review your State BON position on professional misconduct as well as the Code of Ethics.
I have scrutinized the ANA Code of Ethics, the Texas BoN website, and examined my facility's policies. I tried google searching, but with the myriad of ADN-to-BSN programs being offered online, I could not come up with satisfactory results from my keyword queries.
Here is my conclusion: It is not an official garment of my facility and is not worn while I am working, I am not using the title to gain advancement and have not misrepresented myself to my employers or patients, and I have found no evidence of it being a violation (and neither can anyone else apparently).
It is comparable to putting "Mixmaster Phiir" or "Love Doctor Phiir" on the jacket - have I attained a master's degree from an accredited mixing university or written a dissertation on love to achieve a PhD? If those terms were on my name badge or any other attire that I don while working, it is certainly unprofessional and should not be worn as it is a misrepresentation and definitely against policy.
So I'm going to leave it at that and will no longer reply until such time as a rule or regulation against my own personal, non-employment related garment having currently one incorrect credential is brought to my attention.
Thank you all for your replies, sincerely:
Mixmaster Love Doctor Phiir, World's Greatest Dad and Philanthropist
I have scrutinized the ANA Code of Ethics, the Texas BoN website, and examined my facility's policies. I tried google searching, but with the myriad of ADN-to-BSN programs being offered online, I could not come up with satisfactory results from my keyword queries.
Here is my conclusion: It is not an official garment of my facility and is not worn while I am working, I am not using the title to gain advancement and have not misrepresented myself to my employers or patients, and I have found no evidence of it being a violation (and neither can anyone else apparently).
It is comparable to putting "Mixmaster Phiir" or "Love Doctor Phiir" on the jacket - have I attained a master's degree from an accredited mixing university or written a dissertation on love to achieve a PhD? If those terms were on my name badge or any other attire that I don while working, it is certainly unprofessional and should not be worn as it is a misrepresentation and definitely against policy.
So I'm going to leave it at that and will no longer reply until such time as a rule or regulation against my own personal, non-employment related garment having currently one incorrect credential is brought to my attention.
Thank you all for your replies, sincerely:
Mixmaster Love Doctor Phiir, World's Greatest Dad and Philanthropist
That is a ridiculous comparison, since neither "Mixmaster" or "Doctor of Love" in any way suggests that you actually hold an Master's or doctoral degree. I you like the sound of "master" or "doctor," maybe you should have "MSN" or "PhD" after your name on a jacket. Heck, why not? If it's okay to claim you have a BSN without having one, why not reach for the stars??
Are you pursing a degree in attitude as well? Be sure and get that put on your jacket you're currently wearing with a degree you do not currently have!
Allow me to remind you that saying 'allow me' is asking permission and that I have not mandated anything. I attempted to refine the questions to the ones I wanted answered - I restricted nothing, I can monitor ALL I LIKE, and as for filters - I'll let the forums do that as they have already established what will be filtered in their ToS.
Are you pursing a degree in attitude as well? Be sure and get that put on your jacket you're currently wearing with a degree you do not currently have!
Do they have those!? I'm sure I qualify for at least a master's in being a smartass.
Of course, if they offered degrees in attitude AN would be replete with them. :)
As long as you are not representing yourself at work as having a degree that you haven't earned yet, go ahead and wear the jacket. I really don't see any random people on the street seeing your jacket and commenting on the fact you have a BSN a few months shy of that fact. I really, really don't see any random people on the street even caring if you have a BSN at all.
I'll never understand those who post on here asking questions, who then turn around and get downright rude with their responses back. Why ask if you don't want to hear our answers? I know people tend to be a bit more outspoken on internet forums, but seriously? The immature responses from the OP are ridiculous. You were given advice. If you chose to be a LIAR and wear a jacket showing a BSN when in fact you do NOT have it, that's your problem. I think it says something that you feel the need to be so "proud" of a title you don't even own. Sort of how certain types of people have to have the biggest trucks or newest cars to prove to the world just how "special" they are..
nursej22, MSN, RN
4,851 Posts
Red, 42, red 42, hut, hut!