Giving last name in report

[DaveICURN]

In school, I was taught to chart the first initial, last name, and license of the nurse receiving Pt care.

This was explained that if the chart was called into court and I gave report to Brittany RN Anywhereville, Hospital, that there may be multiple people of this name at the same date and time report was given.

This has been my norm for report, and I have only recently ran into opposition. While giving report I, as usual, requested the nurses name for posterity. It's been a favorite of mine since the princess bride. The nurse, in no uncertain, terms reported "I'm not obligated to give my last name." I paused, then gave my last name and gave report. So I noted first name, hospital, and unit.

My question,

What is your opinion on giving last names for report?

I have heard the concern of the nurse on the other side being a "creep" and stalking the nurse. So safety I understand. Just want second opinions on my own understanding.

[MunoRN, RN]

Please provide the law that states I must give anyone my last name? I have never ever given a patient my last name.

If there is a question with my care and a patient decides to sue, their lawyer can get all my pertinent info from my employer. I know of no law that requires me to reveal my full name to patients.

It's a documented condition of licensure in every state, you are a publicly licensed professional which means those receiving your care or their representatives have a legal right to inquire about your licensure status, to review action taken against your license, and to bring complaints directly to your licensing board with having to go through your employer. There are some exceptions, such as mental health, although in those situations there still needs to be a legally designated proxy that patients can bring issues to.

My state sends out a long list of actions they've taken in the last month, which has become my routine toilet-time reading. "Refusal to identify" is not an uncommon reason for warnings against licenses.

[oceangirl1234]

Sorry if this has been said...skimmed over majority of the comments. But as a nurse, your name is public knowledge...i.e. they can look up your license number and verify that you in fact have a nursing license. Don't know why someone would get so worked up over this.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I just thought of a situation in which I was regularly asked my last name when working in the hospital- when the lab called panic results in. They still butchered the spelling every time, even though I spelled it out for them.

I did once have a CPS worker refuse to give me his first name when he accepted a report of neglect that I filed. He said "I only go my Mr. Jones" (or whatever his last name was) and directed me to address the written report my state requires that we follow-up with to him in that way.

[NoctuRNalED]

I get first name, last name and title of whoever I give report to on any patient that is being transferred. It's our ER policy that we document it, as well as documenting the first and last name of the accepting physician. Is it overkill? Perhaps but our hospital is super strict about EMTALA documentation and these are part of our required documentation. I've never had anyone not tell me their last name. I usually ask by saying, "Can I get your last name for my chart?" Never had a problem.

Giving report to another floor in our hospital it's first names only and sometimes a last initial.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I just thought of a situation in which I was regularly asked my last name when working in the hospital- when the lab called panic results in. They still butchered the spelling every time, even though I spelled it out for them.

Some ask, some don't. Some who ask chart my last name; some who ask don't chart it. If they do chart it, it is almost always spelled wrong, even though, I too, spell it out (and use the phonetic alphabet for 'confusing' letters).

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I usually don't chart last names, but why on earth would a nurse have an issue with giving his/her last name to another professional nurse?

N.B. This is not directed at this poster, because I know it happens--this is merely directed at the situation in general.

[Alex_RN, BSN]

You have never ever given a patient your last name? Do you guys wear badges at your hospital? Or do you work at a pysch ward? I am pretty sure all of the nurses that work in hospitals in CA must wear badges that identify who they are, now in a mental health facility/er they may put tape over the last name portion but every where else it must be shown...

I am in California and my badge has my first name and last initial, RN, my picture, and a sticker that says I had a flu shot. I have never had a patient ask my last name, ever. When I give/get report from another facility I note the person's first name ("gave report to Mary at Shady Rest SNF") and they usually do the same. If someone asked for my last name, I would give it but that has never happened.

I do not know the last names of my coworkers. It only comes up if we are verifying blood products or getting a critical value from the lab. Otherwise, most everything is electronic and I am signing in with my number and pin.

[Fiona59]

Our badges have only our first name and designation on them. We do not give out our surnames. It's a security issue (previous stalking incidents by disgruntled patients and a murder)

[Alex_RN, BSN]

Our badges have only our first name and designation on them. We do not give out our surnames. It's a security issue (previous stalking incidents by disgruntled patients and a murder)

I am reminded that at my last job there had been a stalking issue with a patient's family. Last names on badges were covered up by the time I started.

[mrsboots87]

Also, we use Vocera at my hospital. We all know each other's last names anyway because it's how we call each other. every report I get, I'm asked for my last name and spelling, and I do the same if I give report I didn't even realize it was a thing to not chart a handoff or refuse giving a last name.

What if a patient crumps at 0735, but I still haven't received report, and the NOC nurse has neglected care in some way? I don't want it assumed that it is in some way my fault purely because I should have accepted that patient by 0730 when the NOC nurse is supposed to have left.

I came in to work a few minutes late last week. I went to the charge office to get my assignment and got a huddle update real quick. As we were talking I hear a rapid called on one of my soon to be patients.

Handoff charting protects me in case something questionable happens to that patient, it is not my fault. Or if the NOC nurse were to not be present for some reason, it would not be assumed the patient was mine and under my care at that time.

The vast majority of the time no adverse events occur at a questionable time for who the patients nurse was. But I'm case the current nurse delays care for any reason, the time I chart a handoff ensures it is know that it was their responsibility to handle that situation.

[SC_RNDude]

Also, we use Vocera at my hospital. We all know each other's last names anyway because it's how we call each other. every report I get, I'm asked for my last name and spelling, and I do the same if I give report I didn't even realize it was a thing to not chart a handoff or refuse giving a last name.

What if a patient crumps at 0735, but I still haven't received report, and the NOC nurse has neglected care in some way? I don't want it assumed that it is in some way my fault purely because I should have accepted that patient by 0730 when the NOC nurse is supposed to have left.

I came in to work a few minutes late last week. I went to the charge office to get my assignment and got a huddle update real quick. As we were talking I hear a rapid called on one of my soon to be patients.

Handoff charting protects me in case something questionable happens to that patient, it is not my fault. Or if the NOC nurse were to not be present for some reason, it would not be assumed the patient was mine and under my care at that time.

The vast majority of the time no adverse events occur at a questionable time for who the patients nurse was. But I'm case the current nurse delays care for any reason, the time I chart a handoff ensures it is know that it was their responsibility to handle that situation.

What exactly could go wrong with a patient in the first few minutes, or even hour of your shift, that you feel you might be blamed for if you didn't chart exactly what time you assumed care?

You said a vast majority of the time it doesn't matter. Do you have any specific examples of when it did?

[wondern, ASN]

The thought of an RN, or any any health care worker for that matter, covering up their last name on their ID badge with tape is very unprofessional. It sounds illegal actually, not to mention disrespectful. What kind of dignity is that providing your patient?

If your patients are stalking you FTLOG have them arrested. Their illegal behavior does not change the laws and rights of other non-stalking patients who have the right to know who is providing their care.