Why do Nurse's wear there degree on there name badges?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have never had anyone give me a straight answear to this question, Why do nurses wear there degree on the badge uniforms? I see few other people in the hospital setting that do it except for nurses, why is this? Is it an ego thing? I would understand if you were qualified for various postions ie RN, EMT-P, RRT, but the whole concept of wearing your degree seems to have a I'm better than you attitude. Personnally myself being a military man I find the postion you hold carries more clout than your degree. I have seen ADN's as Supervisors and MSN's doing floor work. Does the degree vs the certification(CEN,CCN) make a difference? As a pre- hospital care worker when I go in the ER or up to a floor the only thing I ever notice is that the higher the degree the less likely that person is to assist you, not always but more often than not this is the case. I would welcome any feed back on this. Thanks Kev

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by mcl4

I disagree. Patients are not overly interested or aware in what your education history is while you give them their care from what I've seen in different hosptial and nursing home settings. They recognize the difference between a RN/LPN/CNA and that is about the extent of it. Patients' priority is that their needs are meet and the care is safe.

That is exactly what I stated. I said that patients are very UNAWARE of the educational levels of nurses. I don't see anything wrong with using my credentials to educate the public about the various educational backgrounds of their caregivers.

I didnt go to med school because the tuition is 24,000 a year, and straight out of high school I couldnt swing that, since I completely support myself on loans and scholarships, with no assistance from my parents. My goal was to be a nurse first, because in my experience, the best doctors are often those who were nurses first. And, I can work at a hospital that offers tuition reimbursment. It might take me more time, but its worth it to me in the long run.

To me, it IS a matter of pride. Everyone should be proud of the accomplishments they have made. What about jobs where "20 years of dedicated service" is printed on their badges? Not just nursing, other types of employees have that too. Should it not matter what time they have put in to their profession? Its not just about a statement of "job title". Its about pride and recognition of service and accomplishment.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

And...back to the point of discussion:

The original question was why should nurses be allowed to wear credentials on their badges? I guess I fail to see a solid argument in which doing so hinders patient care, or interferes with safe practice.

Someone mentioned that name badges are meant to be used for ID and security reasons only; my name badge does that as well as serves the only place where I can proudly display my education. If I had an office, I would be hanging my diploma and my license on the walls.

At the one facility where I am allowed to have RN, BSN after my name, I've had only good interactions and educational opportunities with patients who have asked me what a BSN is, how many years of schooling, etc, etc. Like I've said, I've had some patients who thought ALL NURSES had to have a 4 year degree. I've had patients whose daughters/sisters were interested in nursing school and were undecided about which program to go into, and asked me why I chose the BSN route. And I've had some patients who were fully aware of the various levels of nursing and commented on how they thought all BSNs were removed from the bedside. So you see, displaying my BSN only proved to help educate the public about the nursing profession and helped to dispell some myths.

Until someone can present an argument to me about how displaying your credentials is detrimental to patient care, I am all for wearing your BSN or MSN with pride. There is nothing wrong with it and we should be allowed to without criticism from our own kind.

Originally posted by Susy K

That is exactly what I stated. I said that patients are very UNAWARE of the educational levels of nurses. I don't see anything wrong with using my credentials to educate the public about the various educational backgrounds of their caregivers.

I also stated in my the previous message that patients are not overly interested. Most patients are ill and more interested in what is going on with them and how a nurse can help them get well. If you think a ill person wants to know the educational process of becoming a nurse, I would question this. Patients want to have their pain taken away, reassurance, educating them about their disease process or illness and to have this done by a qualified nurse. I could see telling someone outside a hospital setting the different ways a person becomes a RN, but in the hospital, we are there to educate the patient with what is going on with them and not us.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by mcl4

I also stated in my the previous message that patients are not overly interested. Most patients are ill and more interested in what is going on with them and how a nurse can help them get well. If you think a ill person wants to know the educational process of becoming a nurse, I would question this. Patients want to have their pain taken away, reassurance, educating them about their disease process or illness and to have this done by a qualified nurse. I could see telling someone outside a hospital setting the different ways a person becomes a RN, but in the hospital, we are there to educate the patient with what is going on with them and not us.

This goes without saying. I am not trying to be picky here, but obviously I am not going to sit there and rattle off the history of the suppressed nursing profession while my patient is in the process of getting an epidural placed, or while we are prepping her for an emergency C-section.

Patients DO have needs while in the hospital, and most of them pertain to direct bedside care. But in my opinion, I treat my patients wholistically, and that includes interacting with them on a friendly basis and enjoying conversation other than their disease process. Distraction is also a widely used pain relief measure. :)

[My goal was to be a nurse first, because in my experience, the best doctors are often those who were nurses first. And, I can work at a hospital that offers tuition reimbursment. It might take me more time, but its worth it to me in the long run.

A hospital will pay for med school. I question if they would do this? Most physicians enter med school and do not attend nursing school. How many physicians do you know that were previous nurses.

To me, it IS a matter of pride. Everyone should be proud of the accomplishments they have made. What about jobs where "20 years of dedicated service" is printed on their badges? Not just nursing, other types of employees have that too. Should it not matter what time they have put in to their profession? Its not just about a statement of "job title". Its about pride and recognition of service and accomplishment. [/b]

Will have to agree to disagree on this one. I see a name badge for displaying a person's name, job title and used for security reasons. It is not meant to display one's sacraficies, pride or whatever you want to accomplish with recogition.

Specializes in Pediatric Rehabilitation.

Why do you guys keep arguing for your right to wear your credentials on your badges? YOU sacrificed the extra time, you EARNED the right to wear your credentials, quit worrying about the few who feel inferior because you've done more. If you'll notice, most of the people who are arguing against the credentials on name tags have THEIR credentials listed on this board as their user names.

Brandy,

I love your spunk, kiddo! I agree that you should be paid more because of your degree. You sacrificed more, you're more educated and your student loan will be a helluva lot more. In my area the differential is only 50 cents, which is not much motivation for a BSN. It should be more. Although I don't always agree with you, you're very articulate and open minded. Don't let someone try to tell you that because you're a student you have no right to an opinion (not that I think you would ;))!

Originally posted by Susy K

This goes without saying. I am not trying to be picky here, but obviously I am not going to sit there and rattle off the history of the suppressed nursing profession while my patient is in the process of getting an epidural placed, or while we are prepping her for an emergency C-section.

Suppressed nursing profession?

Patients DO have needs while in the hospital, and most of them pertain to direct bedside care. But in my opinion, I treat my patients wholistically, and that includes interacting with them on a friendly basis and enjoying conversation other than their disease process. Distraction is also a widely used pain relief measure. :)

How often or many times have you explained your education history to a patient. It simply isn't something that is commonly discussed with patients. I enjoy a friendly conversation with patients, but we generally talk about their lives or their family, if they are comfortable in doing so, and not mine.

. Don't let someone try to tell you that because you're a student you have no right to an opinion (not that I think you would ;))! [/b]

No one stated a person doesn't have a right to an opinon.

But personally I do look at a person's experience when evaluating their opinon.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I also wear my nursing pin on my name badge. According to your argument, I am defeating the purpose of my name badge by displaying this pin.

This is starting to not make a whole lot of sense at all.

Originally posted by nurs4kids

Why do you guys keep arguing for your right to wear your credentials on your badges? YOU sacrificed the extra time, you EARNED the right to wear your credentials, quit worrying about the few who feel inferior because you've done more. If you'll notice, most of the people who are arguing against the credentials on name tags have THEIR credentials listed on this board as their user names.

Many nurses have different hardships they've need to go through in order to obtain their ADN, diploma or BSN. Sacrafices can encompass more then "extra time" and this is worth noting.

My user name has mcl4 and no credentials listed. What user name are you writing about?

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

HEY - please, please please quit inserting YOUR comments into my postings. Thanks.

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