BSN RN & Certifications not allowed on my badge: I am outraged!

[Simba2241]

After much hard work, dedication, and sacrifice I obtained my BSN RN in 2004. Today I walked out of an orientation at a major Raleigh, NC hospital because I was told why I asked why RN's could not proudly display their education and credentials "WE do not recognize titles here. There are no titles" I was outraged and hurt. In educating the orientation administrative person (she was not a nurse) I explained that having to meet strict criteria for certification and education levels are not a title! She looked annoyed. SO I left.

Education and credentials are not easily obtained. They are representations of a RN's commitment to his/her craft. They are indications of the sacrifice and hard work she/ he has put in to go the extra mile. I am in no way negating an ADN. ON the contrary, ADN's make just as much of a sacrifice (However...in all honesty.... you will never hear an ADN voicing concern about not being able to display her ADN...sorry if I have offended any ADN's but the truth is the truth!).

When I handed HR my resignation letter and explained why I am resigning after only 2 days of orientation she looked annoyed and asked : "What does it matter. All of you are RN's and you all do the same thing" I just looked at her and shook my head.

I cannot understand an organization that BANS your right to display your hard work. What right does that organization have?

Needless to say I left another hospital for a minor pay increase at this facility. I regret that decision. I told HR I would rather tolerate a few cents less and have the HARD EARNED RIGHT TO DIAPLY MY CREDNTIALS than to work for an organization who tells me I CAN NOT DISPLAY MY CREDENTIALS>

Shame on you Wake Med! You will never achieve magnet status if you continue to disregard the hard work of your RN's!

Sandra BSN RN

[kermitlady]

:yeahthat: I get the feeling the OP doesn't consider LPN's nurses, either.

[Simba2241]

Would we say this to sodliers who are serving in Iraq or any soldier? HE/She proudly displays their riflemanship, honors, awards, credentials etc.......We do not question it. Oftentimes their uniforms house many many certiffications awards etc.....(my ex was a Marine)Their rank depends upon thier dedication to excellence, awards, honors etc.....WHy as Nurses we sell ourselves so short????...so so so sad!

[Simba2241]

I am not conerned how I am judged by floor nurses.....I am concerned with the level of care I give to my patients and how my patients feel about me. I am concerned with my contiued growth and development in nursing. I am concerned with continuing to raise the bar in nursing. NC board now requires education credits in order to renew licensure.THEY HAVE RAISED THE BAR! Why? Becasue NCBON understands that it is only through continued education that nurses can remain updated on today's changes in nursing. My response to catellior was not "contemptous"....it was honest. Duke and UNC-CH recognize the importance of recognizing their nurses' accomplishements and credentails via name badges....THEY ARE BOTH MAGNET HOSPITALS!

[sharpeimom]

my dad was an attorney/m.d. by virtue of his schooling, and through his life education learned a great deal about many things because he read absolutely everything he came across. oh, and what did he display on his office wall? by law, he hung his law school degree, one of his several undergraduate degrees, his 4th grade certificate for good penmanship, and his eagle scout badge which he had had framed. he's been dead 35 years and people remember what a compassionate, loving man he was. i recently attended a reception with my husband and at least 3 people, including a retired ancient law school dean, told me just how brilliant he had been. moral of the story? it matters not what is on your badge or wall because displaying them isn't what it's all about. it's all about how people remember you. a b.s.n. prepares you for a potential leadership role but you often initially lack the hands-on task skills a.d. nurses have when they graduate. once you have something, you don't need to advertise just to brag because those who need to know, already know you have your credentials and your patients won't care. before you ask, i have a b.a. in creative writing, a b.s.n. and a m.s.n.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

[Simba2241]

One more thing.....you ARE RIGHT...MY EMPLOYER DOES OWN MY NAME BADGE BUT MY EMPLOYER DOES NOT OWN ME!

This entire experience has movitvated meto obtain my MSN/MBA and eventually open my own business and set my own standards. When I do, I will encourage the staff I employ to continue to strive for excellence and I WILL NEVER restrict a staff's right to display his/her hard work. I will contiue to motivate...I will ALWAYS stress the importance and implications of "honing your craft"....

[EarthChild1130]

Not to step on anybody's shoes, but I don't even wear a badge at work, but you can bet your bottom I KNOW exactly what I am capable of as a nurse, and so do all of my patients, and they don't really care what's behind my name.

Having one's degrees and certs on a badge won't make that person a better nurse and it certainly won't lead to more workplace respect. What DOES count is dedication to your patients and being a good team player, IMO.

Best of luck to you, OP.

[Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Would we say this to sodliers who are serving in Iraq or any soldier? HE/She proudly displays their riflemanship, honors, awards, credentials etc.......We do not question it. Oftentimes their uniforms house many many certiffications awards etc.....(my ex was a Marine)Their rank depends upon thier dedication to excellence, awards, honors etc.....WHy as Nurses we sell ourselves so short????...so so so sad!

Clearly you, yourself, haven't been there. The flashy Marine dress uniforms are for making a statement when needed and appropriate. On the job, it is an entirely different order of business. Ask a Marine or other combat operator. Their work clothes and the business end of their rifle are far more representative of them and how they typically see themselves. I think good clinicians have a similar day-to-day attitude.

[vanillamocha]

I agree with Carlotter. It's sad that you walked off your job because your title was not recognize. RN BSN or ADN, we entered the profession to help others. It just makes me wonder if you entered the profession for the right reason and that you are placing value on the wrong thing. As a matter of fact, all of us worked hard to get where we are, BSN or ADN. I am currently in school pursuing my BSN and I agree it is a lot of hard work but it does not matter whether or not I have BSN or ADN on my badge, once it says RN.

Now that's my 5 cents, take it or leave it.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I anticipate a long, hard road of employment for you. However each of us came to the position of Registered Nurse, we are all performing essentially the same job (like it or not, it is what it is). If you had wanted out-of-the-ordinary recognition for your accomplishments, I'm afraid that you may have chosen the wrong profession.

Of course you are to be commended for your degree. Anyone who goes above and beyond is to be commended. But walking out of an orientation and leaving a position to which you've committed strikes me as a little extreme and a harbinger for your future job satisfaction.

[Lucky0220]

Simba, I must say that you seem to be so very insecure if you feel the need to display every credential that you have. I got my BA in education years ago, so what! I got a great education (4yr liberal arts degree), and it all it really prepared me for was to do great when watching Jeopardy with friends!! Your education is for you and you alone to be proud of. I now have my ADN in nursing and I may be more "educated" than my fellow nurses on the floor, but I know NOTHING compared to them when it comes to nursing because I am brand new. Every tech knows more than me when it comes to patient care! We should all strive to learn something new every day, no matter who it comes from. Do you think that someone who worked very hard and made tons of money due to his hard work should wear a badge that says "millionaire"? Be proud of what you've accomplished, but don't let it give you a false sense of entitlement. By the way, with all your "credentials", your spelling could be a bit better!!! LOL

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

Quote by Simba:

"We were required to write a Socialization paper....We were required to do a research paper...including statistics etc. In other words...our bar was raised pretty high....now a hospital comes along and tells me that it means nothing."

Well guess what? I am currently working on a 15 page research report with stats and just finished a a paper on Health Care Rationing....and I am going to a Junior College!!!! I have my RN AS but am finishing my Bachelors in Liberal Arts. Most colleges do require these type of papers, whether you are an AA or BSN!

[Simba2241]

ANOTHER MORAL OF THIS STORY THAT I SEE AS IMPORTANT IS: Your father was very proud of ALL of his accomplishments no matter how large (J.D) or small (penmanship)...but ALL were equally as important as the next. Who knows the penmanship may have meant more to him that the JD. One may never know what perils it took for him to acheive the penmanship award during his childhood. HE EARNED IT THROUGH HARD WORK! To add... your father was a well liked and viewd as a compassionate man which adds to his accomplishments.....I know that others will regard me as a compassionate person when I cross over....but I also hope that others regard me as one who truly fought for what she beleives in and who continued to advance her personal growth in the nursing profession....Also...why include your credentials in your resume....why not just simply put "nurse"?