Does your hospital or facility badge include your credentials?

[icuRNmaggie]

In my current staff nurse RN position my badge says Maggie and underneath my name it says nurse in lower case letters. Not even RN, just 'nurse'. We have several excellent night shift LPNs on Med Surg and my badge is identical to theirs. I don't mean to sound elitist it's just that we are in different roles.

(Please don't dogpile on me for mentioning the LPNs ok? They are my buddies. This is about badges not who is a better nurse.)

At first I thought 'whatever.' The hospital management made a statement that they are opposed to having "cv information" on hospital id badges.

My credentials are BSN, CCRN. My department is MICU.

I'm curious if this is happening in other hospitals because I just dont get it. I dont want the badges to say AA or AS RN, that is unnecessary. But RN would certainly be reassuring to the pts. If I'm sick I would be thankful to see that CCRN or CEN or CNOR on my nurse's badge. It represents competence and a commitment to continuing education.

Any thoughts?

[CTRN'11]

My badge says my first name, RN and another card behind it that said registered nurse. I would like my credentials on it. I spent a lot of time and hardwork on my BSN so why not show that?

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Only RN, patients don't care about all the other stuff ?

[MunoRN, RN]

My badge says my first name, RN and another card behind it that said registered nurse. I would like my credentials on it. I spent a lot of time and hardwork on my BSN so why not show that?

You "show" your training in your nursing practice and patient care.

[CTRN'11]

You "show" your training in your nursing practice and patient care.

Good point!

[OCNRN63, RN]

Where I worked, it had our name, RN, any degrees, any certifications. The patients I took care of did take note of the certification.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Ours just has our first name, last initial and RN. I'm glad they don't put our last name like some of the other hospital systems, esp when dealing with all the psych patients. The hospital phased out LPN's back in the 90's so the few remaining were grandfathered in but are practicing as techs not LPN's. The majority of LPN's left rather than stay as techs.

I don't understand the alphabet soup titles that many nurses display after their name. What is the point? Bragging rights? Most patients wouldn't know what they stand for and I doubt they ask. I guess it is the ANA's idea of promoting professionalism, but I don't think it is necessary.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

After two pages of posts, OP, I'm sure you realize that yours is not the norm. Credentials are appropriate on an ID badge.

Pretty sure the MDs don't have "John" and 'doctor' underneath....

Then again, if you can get the chance to self-design, ask for one that says "Maggie, Pill Pusher" on it!

[caliotter3]

I like "Maggie, Pill Pusher" but "Maggie, Pooper Scooper" might be more appropriate for a lot of us. Reminds me of when a new company took over our facility 20 years ago and gave us all badges that read "Maggie, Team Member". Everybody was disgruntled but changed their focus when the new company started showing team members the door with the layoffs.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

....gave us all badges that read "Maggie, Team Member". ...

Sounds like Wal-Mart Hospital!

[caliotter3]

Sounds like Wal-Mart Hospital!

Ever since I found out "member" is also used for a male's, err, 'member', I've really hated that title!

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

We have a card that is slightly larger than our IDs, it hangs down the back so the title RN, MD, or whatever can be seen below our IDs.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

When I worked at Hopkins in the early nineties my badge said "junior partner."

it still cracks me up

Thanks everyone for the good information and good laughs.