Do you sign "RN' after your name OUTSIDE of the hospital?

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For example, this one nurse told me she signs RN next to everything she signs now - eve check- which is so retarded and no warranted for in my book. your thoughts?

if it becomes the case of showing your licneses' off, then can you imagine howit becomes when the buildling contractor want to list all of his qualifications after his name and so on? :)

Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I don't.

My "official signature" (the one I use on my passport, checks etc.) is completely different from my work signature. I use my work signature ONLY at work and it consists of nothing more than my name with RN at the end of it. My "official signature" is a little more 'fancy' and complicated ;)

Don't ask why I have two different signatures...

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Don't ask why I have two different signatures...

Aha! I knew you were a secret spy! :chuckle

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Well, if I put RN after my name, I can be accused of fraud (smile) since I am an LPN. I don't do that, but I noticed that when I write letters to people, I use nursing abbreviations to laypeople before I realize that I can't expect them to understand when I say I'll be over to see them a.c., or noc.

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Same as most of the other people who responded... if I stop at the gas station or Walmart or somewhere else on my way home from work I am good for an OOPS about once a month...

A Xxxx RN

Never on purpose. Too many people think you are the go-to person for medical questions, I think, if they know you're a nurse. The cashier in the McDonald's drive thru asked me about some medical issues his pregnant girlfriend was having... all I wanted was a cheeseburger and a sweet tea! Sheesh. ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I've done it on accident, mostly when using my first initial and last name, or my initials, since that's the context I use it with at work. When I fill out the return address spot on envelopes, I have always done C.Breeze, so too many times an "RN" comes out at the end before I can stop it!

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

Well, if the title is legitimately theirs, I figure they may use it whenever and wherever they darn well please. Of course, I would think it is pretty pretentious and obnoxious.

My wife and I have both caught ourselves accidently signing with titles; usually when we're very tired or distracted.

I don't even sign RN in the hospital most of the time. That's a bit odd, because on my flights I sign the charts FP-C almost without fail. (Maybe because that was a harder exam than NCLEX, and traumatized me?)

As our British colleagues would say 'horses for courses'.

Mordechai, BSc, BSN

Combat Medic 09, NREMT-P, FP-C, RN...um, did I forget anything? :chuckle

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

When I am writing letters and I am making a point I may write RN, BSN after my name. But other than that No I used to be very proud I was a nurse but times have changed

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That's sort of like insisting people call you Dr. So and So, when you have a PhD in Llama hearding or somesuch, isn't it :)

:lol2::lol2::lol2:

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

only by accident, off topic, I once got sucked into an automatic membership thing when I ordered something on the internet, I was to be automatically charged/enrolled, which I certaintly wasn't happy about, I emailed the company and signed it " Attorney at Law" , worked awesome !!!! I was immediately taken off.....

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Specializes in Operating Room.
---Quote (Originally by rhymeswithlibrarian)---

Please don't use "retarded" as an epithet; it's disrespectful to people with developmental disabilities.

---End Quote---

Thank you.

---Quote (Originally by uscstu4lfe)---

i'm young, and retarded is just what i say when i think something is lame. that's all

---End Quote---

Age is not an excuse for behaving in an unthinking manner unless one is actually a child. Furthermore, as a nurse I would think you have the education and training to know better than to use such a term in such a way. Lastly, that kind of speech falls under the "ridiculously unprofessional" category. I was seriously opening this thread and thinking about how much I enjoy the insightful questions you always post, so please don't take this as a personal offense.

---Quote (Originally by WitchyRN)---

No, I just sign RN at work. Outside of the hospital, I want as few people as possible to know that I'm an RN, LOL. Ever see those T-shirts and license plate decorations that say RN on them? No way in hell I'd ever want one of those! That's just asking for aggravation.

---End Quote---

I don't understand how it's an aggravation. I have an oval "RN" sticker on my car, and nothing has come of it except for starting a few interesting conversations, an icebreaker, etc. I do sign "RN" after my name on most things, as does my twin sister who is also a nurse. It's a combination of force of habit, pride, and wanting the general public to see nurses as people living out in the world. :nurse:

I'm just of the camp that thinks a separation between work and the rest of your life is a good thing. It can be aggravating when people ask for medical advice not to mention a liability. One friend of mine had her landlady pestering her at all hours for every sniffle and bruise.

As much as I like my career, it's not my life. I'm not dinging anyone who likes to sign initials after their name..me personally, initials after my name are only important while at work.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Only on accident!

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I put it when writing formal letters, but other than that I will say no. Im not really sure if Im not proud of it or not, I just don't feel like the world knowing that Im a nurse and then asking weird questions that only doctors could answer. sheesh

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