Would it be tacky to advertise this?

Nurses General Nursing

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Among being a nurse practitioner student, I'm taking a course to become a licensed massage therapist. This is not a question about massage therapy, but a question more about how to advertise one's self, whether it is as a LNC, LMT, etc.. I am thinking about how to print up business cards, and I would like to show my credentials without seeming like I'm trying to be a show off or know-it-all. I wonder if it would be tacky to have a business card reading:

Jane Doe, BSN, RN, LMT

Any comments? Suggestions?

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Just don't advertise it HERE. Against TOS you know.

Specializes in ER.
I understand that.

My point was, is there anything about your nursing education that will directly be applied to your duties as a massage therapist? The example of treating pain by massage and also including your credentials implies more than just a "massage therapist" relationship, it gives the impression that you are then treating your client's medical conditions. That's where the line blurs. You can't diagnose a painful condition in either capacity (and back pain, for example, can have many causes) and by using your RN title as well, clients may get the impression that you can not only treat but diagnose and treat their pain. Does this make sense?

I don't think she would be diagnosing, but rather having advanced knowledge, due to her nursing status, in how to treat pain - it just gives her more ammunition when a patient is getting a massage and has more specific questions about joints, muscles, nerves, etc. She has a little more knowledge to offer and I think we have to assume she knows the line between massage and nursing. I think incorporating those two would be invaluable to her and her patients/clients. I think it would be pretty cool to have a massage therapist who was also a nurse. It elevates her credibility and what she brings to the table, in my mind.

I was looking through the licenses for massage therapists on the state licensing site. Unlike nurses, there is a practitioner profile which gives the name of the institution they graduated from. Interestingly, I notice that several LMTs have a school of nursing listed under their massage school. So, I am thinking this may even be a state requirement to include your nursing credentials if you are a massage/therapist as well as a nurse.

As for the argument for a nurse MT to give the impression she is diagnosing cause of pain and treatment, I can't even see that as an issue. Especially since a nurse understands (or should) the line between diagnosing and giving medical advice and alleviating pain...not even an issue.

I guess I will plan to put a little alphabet soup behind my name then.

Specializes in Med/Surg.
I don't think she would be diagnosing, but rather having advanced knowledge, due to her nursing status, in how to treat pain - it just gives her more ammunition when a patient is getting a massage and has more specific questions about joints, muscles, nerves, etc. She has a little more knowledge to offer and I think we have to assume she knows the line between massage and nursing. I think incorporating those two would be invaluable to her and her patients/clients. I think it would be pretty cool to have a massage therapist who was also a nurse. It elevates her credibility and what she brings to the table, in my mind.

I wasn't saying that SHE doesn't know the difference, I was saying her CLIENTS may not know the difference. Even when it's explained to them. That's the nature of people (we see it with patients every single day).

I was offering my opinion, since opinions were asked for. If you want to disregard it, that's fine.

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