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.
No, no it's not. Different color scrubs do not help patients identify who is who. Different color scrubs are about management putting staff into their place and showing their power.
The larger RN or LPN hang tags are what helps patients identify who is their nurse.
Wow.....just wow. Yes I'm sure management was sitting on their thrones twiddling their thumbs thinking 'how can we demean our staff' ah yes make them wear different colors!.........Different colors help me identify people, I doubt I"m the only one.
My employer supplies scrubs for ED, OR, ICU, Cath lab with specific colors for each department. It's good to know who's who. If they want to provide scrubs fine by me. Otherwise I am wearing my own stuff. I have done just that at an agency position and no one said a word to me about it.
Specializes in Preop/PACU, IM, Orthopaedics, Med Surg.
"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."
Yes, credentials on a badge are appropriate, but get real... your work ethic and how you care for you patient represent competency and commitment. Not a bunch of letters. Some of us are quite competent but were unable to have all the opportunities as some to continue our education. 28 years in the field and a damn good nurse. Proud of it!
After a long time of reading topic replies and quotes, it highly edifies and esteems me to be part of the fantastic medical personnel as seen here.What an admirable and compassionate group of professionals. Don't want to imagine the dimness our world would shoulder without all of you 'doing and being what you really are meant to be'. I am even more proud to call myself your sister in nursing. You all are a breed of your own...one that supersedes all others, in my opinion. THANK YOU!
"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."
Yes, credentials on a badge are appropriate, but get real... your work ethic and how you care for you patient represent competency and commitment. Not a bunch of letters. Some of us are quite competent but were unable to have all the opportunities as some to continue our education. 28 years in the field and a damn good nurse. Proud of it!
I don't know what I said to offend you, or why you would feel the need to tell me to get real. But I will.
National certification in a high acuity specialty area is not just a bunch of letters. It is an achievement that takes considerable expense and many years to attain. My original statement was that certification represents a commitment to continuing education; for myself this meant a year of studying Critical Care textbooks, and an extremely difficult 150 question exam and 100 ceus every three years to maintain this certification. I got my CCRN ten years ago because I knew it would make me a better nurse, and it did. Very few coworkers even know I have it and I like to keep it that way.
"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."
Yes, credentials on a badge are appropriate, but get real... your work ethic and how you care for you patient represent competency and commitment. Not a bunch of letters. Some of us are quite competent but were unable to have all the opportunities as some to continue our education. 28 years in the field and a damn good nurse. Proud of it!
Why do you feel that you did not have the opportunity? I started out as an LPN, 1 of 9 children from a very poor family ten years later I had my RN and I received my CCRN when I worked in ICU, OCN and chemo certs when I worked in oncology, CEN when I worked in ER, because for one it is a good way to study and learn what needs to be known when working in those areas, also helps keep you up to date with EBP. 20+ years later I went back and got my BSN and my MSNEd. I am still paying school loans, I had and have a family and a child, had my son when I was in school for my RN, it really had nothing to do with opportunities because there are many out there, it has to do with desire and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Specializes in Preop/PACU, IM, Orthopaedics, Med Surg.
"it really had nothing to do with opportunities because there are many out there, it has to do with desire and a commitment to lifelong learning"
To Cinlou and icuRNmaggie... Don't get me wrong. Kudos on your accomplishments. I wish it could have happened to me as well. I was just put off by the competence comment. Don't for one minute think credentials spell out competence. I complete many, many classes to stay up with current trends and do more CE's than I will ever need. Education is super important. And Miss Cinlou, you have no idea what I have sacrificed for choosing my family over school. I was accepted to 2 programs in my late forties after completing my prerequisite classes with a 3.9 GPA and being on the national deans list when both my parents fell ill each time I was accepted to a program. I took care of them both until their passing plus working a full time job. This was a span of years. That was my commitment ladies. I am at peace with the choice I made and wouldn't have it any other way. God just has me on a different path. My nursing years have been for the most part great and I am a very happy and good at what I do. Life happens and things change. Don't make a comment on someone's opportunities, desires, and commitment until you have the facts...
If you are working PACU as an LVN you must being doing something right. If you are happy in your work, then I am happy for you. Taking care of family is infinitely more important than a job or some degree. I would love to be on your team anytime.
When I worked in the hospital my badge just said my name and RN. I have a Master's degree and wish that it would have said MSN. I agree that we are not being elitist, but that if we put in extra effort to advance our careers and education and it would be nice to have our badges reflect this.
Why do you feel that you did not have the opportunity? I started out as an LPN, 1 of 9 children from a very poor family ten years later I had my RN and I received my CCRN when I worked in ICU, OCN and chemo certs when I worked in oncology, CEN when I worked in ER, because for one it is a good way to study and learn what needs to be known when working in those areas, also helps keep you up to date with EBP. 20+ years later I went back and got my BSN and my MSNEd. I am still paying school loans, I had and have a family and a child, had my son when I was in school for my RN, it really had nothing to do with opportunities because there are many out there, it has to do with desire and a commitment to lifelong learning.
I bolded and underlined the part of your post that really cuts to the heart of the matter. Many of us have no desire to everhave student loans ever again, ever.
I am financially secure, my loans paid off a few years ago. I'm commited to a debt free life, having spent most of my twenties (I'm 32) deep in debt. If someone is gainfully employed and happy with their job, I fail to see the need to go back to school.
Sometimes I wonder about this mentality in our society to push everyone for more and more education, forever and ever. At some point there's only diminishing returns.
applesxoranges, BSN, RN
2,242 Posts
It has RN underneath my first name.