Facility wants to take my RN title away

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The long term facility I work at wants to take away my RN :nurse: title at the end of my name on my badge and put "Clinical Associate". Can they do this? I worked hard for my RN title and do not believe this can be fair. With this NEW title I feel like I work at Wal-Mart or something.:no: I was also told that by doing this, next they will decrease our pay. I am VERY upset about this.:banghead: Any light you could shed on this matter would be greatly appreciated. :loveya:

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Specializes in Med/Surg...psych...ortho...geriatrics....

That's absurd! If it is meant to sound more important, to benefit the company of course, it should be "RN Clinical Associate" and come with a raise!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Your employer can't "take away" your title of RN. It is granted by the state, and only the state can take it away. You will always sign your charts Jane Doe, RN.

What your employer CAN do is to create alternative job titles. For example, the title of "Director of Nursing" is most likely held by an RN, but the person who holds that position is known in the facility as the DON.

The difference between the alternative titles "Director of Nursing" and "Clinical Associate" is that the general public knows and understands what a DON is and does. The same can't be said for "Clinical Associate." I suspect the reason for this change is to create an environment where patients and families don't know the education or qualifications of the people providing care.

If an RN = "Clinical Associate", then the next step is probably that a CNA = "Clinical Assistant", titles so similar that the clients will begin to assume that everyone is a nurse. This dishonest tactic has been tried by unscrupulous facilities that would rather not address staffing issues.

I don't have a good feeling about this, and I suspect you don't either.

IMO, name badges should clearly designate one's professional credentials, RN, LPN or CNA.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

In most, if not all states, the nurse must wear ID with title of 'RN' or 'LPN' displayed on the badge to satisfy BON requirements regarding "protecting the public". Your facility cannot go against the BON. You need to check this out with your BON and your facility.

Adding, "Clinical Associate" after the RN is fine.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I don't know about the rules in LTC, but in a hospital surveyed by JCAHO the nurses must be readily identifiable. My title is Education Coordinator, but my badge clearly indicates I am an RN. Whether it is on your badge or not, you are accountable and responsible for your actions as a nurse under your own state's practice act. I think I would talk to HR to see what the rationales are about this. Why not Jane Smith, RN, Clinical Associate. If an MD worked there would they drop the MD from his\her name?

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Home Health, Geriatrics.

Wow I'm really sorry that you have to put up with this (and you shouldn't). Any thoughts of quitting?? I know that it's not an option for everyone. Can you at least speak with the next person higher up on the chain? I would suggest to do that and if nothing comes of it- go to the next person up on the chain. If NOTHING at all happens, leave - start interviewing for another job. You're not going to happy and it will affect your job performance. You worked so hard for your RN initials. Good Luck.

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Just wanted to say THANK YOU for yiur comment. It really means a lot when someone is listening.

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Your awsome, I love this reply.

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Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.

Ugh! No way would I let that happen...

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i am not sure of the legalalties now but i was in the hospital about 10 years ago and all the employees had a name tag with the first name is large letters you could see across the room and the last name in smaller letters

nothing to indicate job..the head of the floor and her assistant came in and introduced themselves and the board on the walk gave first names of nurse and aid but the id badges themselves were just names

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I would check of the legalities of this change with your state BON. I was always under the impression that our tags had to have our name and our appropriate title as designated by the state which would be RN. I would also think your title should be the same as what you sign on your charts.

I would be mad too. All of the LPNs and RNs should really take a stand here. You passed the boards to have that title. I would love to know the rationale behind this one. Oy.

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In most, if not all states, the nurse must wear ID with title of 'RN' or 'LPN' displayed on the badge to satisfy BON requirements regarding "protecting the public". Your facility cannot go against the BON. You need to check this out with your BON and your facility.

Adding, "Clinical Associate" after the RN is fine.

Exactly.

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