Name issues--legal issue?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Everyone calls me Jane but that's not my real name. It's not short for anything. In fact it's not even close to my real name. It's also not my legal name. So how will this work after I become a nurse? Will I be able to go by the name everyone calls me and then sign everything with my legal name. Or should I just go by my real name at work?

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Oh and Jane is just an example...:)

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As long as you sign your legal name on documentation there should be no problem.

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I agree, just sign your real name on everything. I am in the same boat and I know many others that use different names. Some have it on their name badges in parentheses. Ask your institution if they allow this.

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Thank you!

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Legally one is allowed to call themselves whatever they wish, long as there is no intention of fraud and so forth.

However in this post 9/11/01 climate it is wise to have all your ducks in a row. When it comes to legal and or official documents, use your proper name. If you went to college/nursing school, took the boards and are licensed under your given name, that is the way you should sign.

In terms of patient care, it could be confusing to not only patients, but staff as well to call you "Jane", when your real name is nothing close. If something happens and records need to be looked up, no one has the time to figure out "Jane" is really someone else.

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Legally one is allowed to call themselves whatever they wish, long as there is no intention of fraud and so forth.

However in this post 9/11/01 climate it is wise to have all your ducks in a row. When it comes to legal and or official documents, use your proper name. If you went to college/nursing school, took the boards and are licensed under your given name, that is the way you should sign.

In terms of patient care, it could be confusing to not only patients, but staff as well to call you "Jane", when your real name is nothing close. If something happens and records need to be looked up, no one has the time to figure out "Jane" is really someone else.

Hmm....good point!

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I know several nurses who go by something other than their legal name. Sign the name that is on your hospital documentation/license but on your badge and what people call you should be the name you prefer to be called. We have a nurse who goes by one name but has her legal name on her badge, it's confusing for patients and new staff who refer to her by that name when talking about her to others. When someone asks me about "Mary" it usually takes a few to realize they aren't talking about Mary but "Jane" who has "Mary" on her badge because it's her legal name.

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Specializes in ED, MS, CC.

I sign my legal name on my documentation but I have my nickname on my badge which is funny because our badges have our first and last names on them, my first and last name on my badge is not the name I go by in my "real life" so if someone we're looking for me they'd have a hard time trying to find me, lol but it also makes it hard because the system at work has me under my legal name so when I call to see where I'm placed I have to remember to use my legal name which I'm not used to doing...

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Specializes in Rehab, Telemetry/Med-Surg.

I go by Brae and have it on my name tag since my full name is apparently too difficult for people to pronounce correctly. (I've had to deal with that all my life! :) I guess Brae is hard too because some of the nurses call me "Bree" but oh well, no harm done!) However, when I'm signing something I use my legal name. It just seems easier for patients/doctors/nurses to remember my shortened name. Just check with your employer on what's acceptable!

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Specializes in Infusion, Med/Surg/Tele, Outpatient.

On a similar note, I am a middle name child. My entire life, I have been called by my middle name. I sign my name "Aggie Nurse, RN." My social security card and license list all three names. My employer had asked me to use "X. Aggie Nurse" as my signature, but I refuse on the basis that the rest of the staff doesn't have to sign "Aggie X. Nurse." The whole assumption that people are to only use their first name is really aggravating! But it's really easy to tell when its a solicitor calling! ;)

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Specializes in LTC.
I go by Brae and have it on my name tag since my full name is apparently too difficult for people to pronounce correctly. (I've had to deal with that all my life! :) I guess Brae is hard too because some of the nurses call me "Bree" but oh well, no harm done!) However, when I'm signing something I use my legal name. It just seems easier for patients/doctors/nurses to remember my shortened name. Just check with your employer on what's acceptable!

I would pronounce that "Bray" Is that correct?

People botch up my name so bad. It ****** me off. My first name is Julianne. I have people call me Julie. But I have been called the following: Julian, Julia, Julianna, Judy, Jilly, Jillian, Judianne. The spelling is even worse they are putting E's in places where they don't belong, then sometimes only 1 n. Get it right its not that hard!

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