Credentials

[phiir]

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.

Thanks!

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

Not unless and until "football player" becomes a legally-protected title with a license behind it.

But thanks for asking.

I do not see that BSN, a educational degree, is a protected title in my state, nor do I see that that degree automatically licenses the holder.

Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse, however, are.

IMO, wearing initials on ones non-work clothing is not violating any statute. Ethically, it might be a little squishy, but the wearer can certainly correct any misconception.

OP, kudos for furthering your education.

[elkpark]

IMO, wearing initials on ones non-work clothing is not violating any statute. Ethically, it might be a little squishy, but the wearer can certainly correct any misconception.

"A little squishy" ethically? I think I'll start wearing a jacket that says "elkpark, PhD, RN." If anyone asks me do I really have a PhD, I'll correct the "misconception." (And, then, when they ask, "Then why the !@#$ do you have PhD after your name on the jacket?", what's the answer to that question?)

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

"A little squishy" ethically? I think I'll start wearing a jacket that says "elkpark, PhD, RN." If anyone asks me do I really have a PhD, I'll correct the "misconception." (And, then, when they ask, "Then why the !@#$ do you have PhD after your name on the jacket?", what's the answer to that question?)

Similar to the OP, " I am a doctoral candidate, and will complete my studies in May."

Did you violate any state statute? No.

Did you represent your self as holding a license that had not been awarded?Only if you did not have a license.

Did you receive compensation under the guise of being something you were not? That would be fraud.

All nurses doesn't allow me to list my actual degree, which is an MN, not MSN. Prior to that I have also earned a associate of arts in a technical field, not an associate degree in nursing, but all nurses didn't allow that either. So am I violating some standard?

[elkpark]

Similar to the OP, " I am a doctoral candidate, and will complete my studies in May."

Did you violate any state statute? No.

Did you represent your self as holding a license that had not been awarded?Only if you did not have a license.

Did you receive compensation under the guise of being something you were not? That would be fraud.

Ooops, duplicate post.

[elkpark]

Similar to the OP, " I am a doctoral candidate, and will complete my studies in May."

Did you violate any state statute? No.

Did you represent your self as holding a license that had not been awarded?Only if you did not have a license.

Did you receive compensation under the guise of being something you were not? That would be fraud.

Well, that response would be a lie, since I'm not a doctoral candidate, but, according to your criteria, there's no problem with that, since I would not be violating a state statute, claiming a license I don't hold, or receiving compensation for it. Good to know! :)

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

This is silly and I can't believe I'm replying, but anywho .... if you are not a RN, and you say you are, it is absolutely against the law....

I'm actually not sure about degrees

are you even a NURSE YET?!

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

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.

������������������ oh boy.... THIS GUY is an absolute TREAT, isn't he? I TOTALLY see him as wearing such a jacket, anyway..... lol

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

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

Umm OK THEN..... why did you bother to post the question then, if you have thoroughly RESEARCHED the ANSWER?? Btw: incredibly corny, the jacket

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Umm OK THEN..... why did you bother to post the question then, if you have thoroughly RESEARCHED the ANSWER?? Btw: incredibly corny, the jacket

The poster probably isn't available to answer...this thread is over a year old.

[phiir, MSN]

The poster probably isn't available to answer...this thread is over a year old.

Nah I'm still around.

Umm OK THEN..... why did you bother to post the question then, if you have thoroughly RESEARCHED the ANSWER?? Btw: incredibly corny, the jacket

I asked here because that's how I learn as a nurse - I look for the answer myself and then if I can't find it, I see if anyone else knows.

The conversation rapidly deteriorated into tangents instead of staying on-topic, so I did not persist. Although now it is a moot point, I am still interested to know what consequences exist, if any, for the original question.