Does your hospital ID badge have your first AND last name on it?

Nurses General Nursing

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seems some people might find that a little invasive when you think about how many people you interact w/ on a personal and impersonal level day in and day out.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

My workplace has first and last name. I used a label machine to cover it up, though, so only my first name is visible on my badge. I once had a patient tell me he was going to come find me after he got discharge from the hospital...so perhaps that's why I decided to cover up my last name.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

First name only on both badges--that's the policy at both facilities I work at.

However, the patient has the legal right to know my last name and if asked, I'll tell them...but in more than three years, I've only been asked once. But since my name is all over any paperwork I sign for them, it's not like it'll remain a big secret for long.

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It's interesting seeing the # of folks whose last name, or full name, is on the back of their badges--when I think of the groups of employees back more than 40 years, whose badges are ALWAYS turned back side out.

Curious.

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Yes, and I've never understood why nurses get so worked up about patients knowing their first and last names. Doctors, PAs, and APNs don't seem to mind.

Yes, this is kind of strange to me as well.

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We have our first and last name (on my college ID, which is what is exposed at clinical). I actually have my name embroidered on my lab coat (by choice). I feel it does exude a more professional appearance. When someone asks me my name in clinical, I say my first name only. My students (obviously) call me professor. Some will introduce me to their patients as "this is my Professor, or this is Professor X."

I can honestly see why some people have a problem with it. I do see some hospitals in my area have their first name bigger and bolder, then the last name much smaller underneath. I really don't think it's that important for your average patient to know your last name. However, if a patient has an issue (either positive or negative), they have the right to know the patients' full name. Depending on the age or culture of the nurses' on the unit, you could 3 Jennifers, 5 maureens, or 4 Jongs. (I live in a very diverse area, I had one clinical where there were two Guyanese girls with the same name... out of 10 students. I had never heard either name before in my life!!)

Our students are taught to introduce themselves by their first and last name. Some do not (I don't fault them), some do every single time. The foreign born students tend to do it more (in many other cultures, the last name is more important than the first name).

Cops' badges have only their last name. Firefighters' turnout coats have their last name on the bottom (for obviously different reasons)

To me it just reflects more of the anti-professional mentality that exists in nursing--as if simply having a first-name only tag is all that is needed. The first name only tags are worn by some waitresses and other occupations. Nothing against waitresses at all. It's just that waitressing is not a professional role.

Funny how nurses don't want to be regarded as waitresses, but when you require that they function with a modicum of professional representation--whether it be by way of their full name and title--or by obtaining a baseline bacalaureate nursing degree, some number of nurses back away from this.

You either want nursing to be regarded as a profession, of which, you also are a professional nurse, or you do not. How we carry ourselves says a lot.

BTW, lol, that's a general "YOU," and it is NOT addressed to anyone specifically. :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

Our badges have both first and last names on them. A lot of people cover up their last names with a sticker, tape, or something like that. I'm really not sure why it's a big deal. The other day, some nurse was going on and on about how it is this big safety risk for patients to know our last names, that she can't believe people like me who don't cover the last name on our badges (I work in the ER). If there is any risk from a disgruntled patient, it is going to be one hiding in a dark corner of the parking garage who would harm me as I leave work and go to my car (not that I am particularly worried about this either).

As someone already said, why is it that the doctors have no issues with giving their names out to patients? Heck, their full names are on the printed discharge instructions the patients take home with them.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
It's interesting seeing the # of folks whose last name, or full name, is on the back of their badges--when I think of the groups of employees back more than 40 years, whose badges are ALWAYS turned back side out.

Curious.

It seems that no matter what I do, my badge turns backwards. I don't intent for it to do that, it just always does, and I am always turning 'forward.' So, at least in my case, if my badge is backwards, it has nothing to do with wanting to keep my name hidden.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I have a friend who works at a children's hospital. For security reasons, they must have the badge on with their pic and full name showing...no excuses there not to have one's badge.

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I have a friend who works at a children's hospital. For security reasons, they must have the badge on with their pic and full name showing...no excuses there not to have one's badge.

Yes, this is standard at many of the children's hospitals I've worked. You better believe those parents and others want to know exactly who is caring for their children. I can't say that I blame them at all.

If safety were this enormous issue, I think we would have heard of more stalking reports in the news by now.

What about famous folks? They all don't have body guards, and there is always paparazzi hanging around them. A few famous people have been accosted by stalkers, but it's not a lot.

What about professors and teachers? What about all the rest of the professionals in the world that work with people and the public, and they either have their full names shown or addresssed or known by their formal names, such that those around them know who they are?

I mean stalking is creepy, and some patients are creepy; but how much of an issue is this really?

Now as long as they don't have you post your home addresss on your ID card, what's the problem? Of course if anyone actually tried to follow me home from work, I'm pretty sure I could lose them enroute. ;)

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Our badges just have the first name.. I wouldn't mind having my last initial on there, but I don't like having my last name freely available. I did have one patient ask me my last name recently. I miss having credentials (BSN, or things like PCCN, CCRN, etc for those who have those certifications) on the badge, though. There is an extra badge hanger that says RN or LPN, but that's it.

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Specializes in medical.

Our ID badges have our first name and surname. But I never wear it except special occasions.

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I have refused having my last name on my badge in the past. Where I work now they do not place it there. I guess I have had different experiences then most of you-where pt's have asked to meet me somewhere, or where do I live, etc etc. I work both critical care and ER. most every nurse I know in my 15 years having worked across the country prefers to not have their last names on their badges.

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