Do you keep your license(s) in your wallet?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a (happily) newly licensed RN and as I lovingly gaze at my shiny new card, I'm wondering if I should keep it in my wallet, or in a safe spot at home?

Same question for my BLS and ACLS cards....

What do you guys do?

~ m

Specializes in ER.

my cards are all in my 1st wallet.

But that wallet stays at home. carry another one haha

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

My nursing licenses are a large pieces of paper, and they stay home. I can always look up my license number online if I need it.

Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

I had my wallet stolen from a hotel whe first moving to FL from IL for a job.... needless to say, my ACLS BLS CCRN and IL nsg license were in there, along with every other thing yoiu would need to obtain employment... SS card and IL driver license. It was an overwhelming, terrible thing. NOTHING stays in my wallet now. ~Ivanna

Virginia provides a wallet card that I carry with my drivers license. Both my nursing and respiratory cards are with me. Licenses are at home in appropriate folders in file cabinets.

No need to keep anything in a safe at home since Virginia provides all information online.

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I think SC dropped the hard license too. I carry my inactive licenses for old times sake.

I'd used keep a couple of voided copies in my locker as my NM forever lost whatever I gave her the first couple of times. Probably no reason to carry it as I can't work on it, but it at least reminds me I used to be a NURSE.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

P_RN - once a nurse, always a nurse. :)

My state did away with plastic licenses a couple years ago, so no - I don't carry one. I carry my BLS & NRP cards with me, just because a wallet-size card fits best in....a wallet.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I keep a small copy of my license (my state issues both a diploma size and a wallet-size one, so one can come with me) as well as my BLS/ACLS/etc. in my wallet.

We don't get hard copies anymore either...but when we did I used to carry mine in a plastic pocket on my work badge until my boss asked me to take it out and put it in a safe place telling me a story about how someone had stolen her friends nursing license and got a job pretending to be this nurse...there was lots of red tape for her friend....

Unfortunately, a person doesn't even need the license to find out your license number: all they need is part of your name and they can search the BON's website and copy the info down...if you just tell them your number, a lot of employers will just go online to check the info and not ask for the hard copy. Stupid FOIA...

Specializes in Neuro-Surgery, Med-Surg, Home Health.

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I learned my lesson the hard way...

I suspect I dropped my wallet as I got out of my car to buy gas. While pumping gas I noticed that my wallet was not in my front right pocket. I searched my car thoroughly but I couldn't find my wallet. One of the worst feelings I ever felt in my life!

I had to file police report and had to replace all of my important documents like my California driver's license, credit cards, CPR card and of course my California RN license.

So, don't keep your RN license in your wallet. Keep it safe at home.

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Why would you carry it?

Once a year I get a paper one upon payment of my fees. Take it to work. Boss makes copy for HR. License goes home and into my "resume" folder. Where it gathers dust until the folder comes out next year to have the newest added.

If I ever go for an interview then the little piece of paper comes with me but with everything being computerized it's hardly needed at interview but more a courtesy.

I keep a small copy of my license (my state issues both a diploma size and a wallet-size one, so one can come with me) as well as my BLS/ACLS/etc. in my wallet.

Unfortunately, a person doesn't even need the license to find out your license number: all they need is part of your name and they can search the BON's website and copy the info down...if you just tell them your number, a lot of employers will just go online to check the info and not ask for the hard copy. Stupid FOIA...

State licenses (nursing as well as other occupations) are public record (since long before the FOIA legislation) -- why wouldn't that information be available to the public, and what's stupid about it?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
State licenses (nursing as well as other occupations) are public record (since long before the FOIA legislation) -- why wouldn't that information be available to the public, and what's stupid about it?

I have no problem with my license information being available: that makes perfect sense.

However, I do have a problem with my HOME address being made available.

I have no problem with my license information being available: that makes perfect sense.

However, I do have a problem with my HOME address being made available.

I completely agree with you about that.

BTW, though, employers now are required to verify licensure on the BON website -- looking at the physical license (and photocopying it for the personnel file) is no longer considered adequte verification of licensure by the various regulatory and accreditation agencies. I worked as a hospital surveyor for my state and the Feds for several years and, even then (several years ago, now), if a facility had photocopies of everyone's current licenses in the files but didn't have documentation that they had verified the licenses on the BON website, they got cited for failing to verify current licensure.

Lots of hospitals are still asking to see licenses, but it's a pointless gesture that is simply old habit. As more and more states do away with paper/plastic licenses (as my state and several others have already done) it will eventually die out entirely.

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