This is a pet peeve of mine because I think it makes us nurses look ignorant and unprofessional. I have seen nurses display their credentials as RN-BSN, RN, BSN; BSN, RN; BA, RN, BSN and the list goes on.
There is a proper way to display credentials and the rationale is quite simple: the degree goes first followed by any licenses and finally any certifications. The reason the degree goes first is because once earned it can NEVER be lost - an unethical nurse can lose his or her license. Also a degree is REQUIRED to get the license so must have been obtained first.
In the event of multiple degrees the HIGHEST degree goes first followed by lowered degrees in a different area that are PERTINENT to the persons position or responsibility. For example, Jane Smith, MA, BSN, RN-BC or John Smith, DNP, MBA, RN-BC. There is never a need to list a lower degree in the same area because one cannot earn an MSN if he or she did not already earn a BSN.
Let's all get on the same page nurses and display our hard earned credentials correctly. If you don't believe or understand me please see the American Nurses Credentialing Center for guidance. Here is the link: http://www.nursecredentialing.org/DisplayCredentials-Brochure.pdf
Thanks for listening all. Believe it or not I get questions about this ALL the time why we (nurses) don't do this the same and as a former journalist it's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. This is my attempt to reach many of my fellow nurses and correct the error. Nurses are AWESOME so let's all get on the same page here.
For the most part I only use the one credential that matters: "RN".
If you're publishing a paper, for instance, then other credentials become relevant, but for the most part I find the alphabet soup that populates many name tags to fail in it's basic purpose of telling patients who you are. Instead they just give patient's the impression we don't feel "RN" is adequate and feel the need to hide the "RN" under the clutter of gibberish.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
FWIW, I see a lot of people talking about how unnecessary it is to have all the alphabet credentials on one's name badge. I'm pretty sure the OP is not talking about the name badge.
I agree with the OP in how credentials need to be standardized, and displayed in a particular way. I don't think it's necessary for them to be on the name badge. My badge says "RN" and nothing else, also. But when one DOES display all their credentials, they should be done in a standardized manner.
I don't have all my credentials on any badge, but the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists has the CRNA placed before the degree. This is how it appears for all CRNA authors in the AANA magazine and from official correspondence from AANA board members.
Technically mine would should read "CRNA, DNAP, MSN". When corresponding with someone in university setting I use highest degree(s) first followed by CRNA, and there is a different format to follow for official military correspondence.
You should be flexible depending on the situation in how you display your credentials.
IMHO the title that allows you to work in the healthcare setting (RN, CRNA, MD, DO) should be displayed first after the name. To me that is the most important thing in that setting.
Hmm...that's interesting. That's not what we were told. I wonder if Nebraska is different or if it's just a facility thing. I have friends that have been told you have X number of years to get your BSN or you are out of a job.
Some of the comments are the exact reason why I have never posted. Why take things to an extreme? The point was UNIFORMITY and that there is a standard set my the ANCC - nothing more. Please stop shooting the messenger. My OP was written to help the profession not start a debate on whether or not it should be done at all or how. And people want to know why there is so much lateral violence in nursing - for goodness sake. This was probably my and LAST post.
Some of the comments are the exact reason why I have never posted. Why take things to an extreme? The point was UNIFORMITY and that there is a standard set my the ANCC - nothing more. Please stop shooting the messenger. My OP was written to help the profession not start a debate on whether or not it should be done at all or how. And people want to know why there is so much lateral violence in nursing - for goodness sake. This was probably my and LAST post.
Some of the comments are the exact reason why I have never posted. Why take things to an extreme? The point was UNIFORMITY and that there is a standard set my the ANCC - nothing more. Please stop shooting the messenger. My OP was written to help the profession not start a debate on whether or not it should be done at all or how. And people want to know why there is so much lateral violence in nursing - for goodness sake. This was probably my and LAST post.
Agreeable disagreement does not equal lateral violence. Some folks just should not post, in general. Viewing an opposing viewpoint or a lively discussion as threatening is a sign that you likely should not be posting in an online forum. The only post I see taking things "to an extreme" is yours, as quoted above, that mentions lateral violence and threatens that you will no longer post. All because others on the forum have differing viewpoints from yours.
The other point I'd like to respectfully make is that while you were attempting to educate us all (no discussion allowed, apparently), you might have been misguided in your "education," as evidenced by this post:
I don't have all my credentials on any badge, but the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists has the CRNA placed before the degree. This is how it appears for all CRNA authors in the AANA magazine and from official correspondence from AANA board members.
Technically mine would should read "CRNA, DNAP, MSN". When corresponding with someone in university setting I use highest degree(s) first followed by CRNA, and there is a different format to follow for official military correspondence.
You should be flexible depending on the situation in how you display your credentials.
IMHO the title that allows you to work in the healthcare setting (RN, CRNA, MD, DO) should be displayed first after the name. To me that is the most important thing in that setting.
The patients find the alphabet soup confusing, and nobody else cares about your hard fought sacrifice other than yourself and maybe your family. You deserve no more "respect" than any other RN.
Words being twisted here, but I never said I deserve more respect than any other RN...so I'll leave it at that.
Anyways You got kids, siblings, friends or you or anyone you know go to a doctor? well at some point in time either you or a member of your family has visited the doctors office.
Would you like your doctor you take your sick kid to to have a 2 year Associates degree? Just saying...99 percent of the people reading this will say "hell no" yet those same person are ok with nurses not pursuing higher degrees...go figure. Competence in nursing can only come by raising our standards of education and care. I'll leave it at that.
Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.
Working in oncology, we do have many hospice/palliative patients. I wear my CHPN on my badge and it does help soothe the patients and families when they know I am certified in hospice and palliative care. I don't usually sign with it in charting unless it specifically pertains to patient care, but do have BSN, RN, CHPN on my email signature.
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, C-NPT, FP-C.
Im not a nurse yet but my name tag on my flight suit only lists FP-C, EMT-P. I also wear my C-NPT pin above that just because it is a relevant cert. Others like my instructor certs and my critical care certification are redundant and not job pertinent so they are left off.
MunoRN, RN
8,058 Posts
For the most part I only use the one credential that matters: "RN".
If you're publishing a paper, for instance, then other credentials become relevant, but for the most part I find the alphabet soup that populates many name tags to fail in it's basic purpose of telling patients who you are. Instead they just give patient's the impression we don't feel "RN" is adequate and feel the need to hide the "RN" under the clutter of gibberish.