who the heck are you...

Nurses General Nursing

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I work at a hospital where we all wear identification badges, mostly hanging off of lanyards (scary) and no other form of ID. I am a new grad and find this a huge issue. I watch my patients faces as doctors, dietitians, physio's, etc, file in and out of their rooms. Badges swinging in the wind-- hard to read, and minimal if any introduction from the patient.

As I am new, and live in the middle of Australia, could you tell me... does the hospital you work in have mandatory name tags with professional designations (in addition to, or other than photo id cards on lanyards)?

Would love to know if someone can point me in the right direction for evidence based info on this-- I must be searching in the wrong areas because I am finding very little on this.

Thanks for your help!

Specializes in SRNA.

Ours are credit card in size, hung vertically, with our photo, RN in big letters, and our first name and first letter of our last name. They're also printed on both sides, so you can't flip it over.

We have name tags on lanyards as well and they do get twisted and turned around backwards. During my first/initial assessment I introduce myself and show them my name tag which has my picture on it, title, hospital name and special emblem for our department that allows me to transport infants. I make sure they see this name tag first thing and anytime I do patient care. I still don't see how a name tag gets in the way of working..mine has never been a problem and I have never had to take it off. I LOVE the idea of the "RN" or "LPN" or "TECH" or "LAB", etc on another plastic tag to identify us. That is indeed an idea I might just pass along. Techs are important but patients truly don't know the difference and I am accountable if they are my patient.

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

At work, the RNs have big tags that hang maybe 6-9" under their nametags that say "RN", then have their photo ID with pic, 1st name and last inital, and title under name. We also use our badges to punch in, pay for cafe stuff, etc...but we also have little string holders that are elastic, so you can take your badge out, stretch it an arms length, and then spring it back to your chest....

The whole ID issue is why I make it a big deal to ALWAYS introduce myself on first contact, and then keep dropping my name every once in a while....although sometimes you might be the only person they remember...(not always a good thing.)

Specializes in Med-Surg, ED.

my tag is on a clip and turns around a lot. Aside from constantly trying to turn it around, I also bought myself a badge with my name and title on it in big letters. The back is a really strong magnet, so no holes in my clothes. I have several designs and they are all cute and professional.

I find patients use my name more if I have one of those ID tags on along with my hospital badge.

I bought them online at TR Nametags.

Printed on both sides with name and position. We also use it for timeclocks, blood sugar machine, removing meds, opening the ER door (it has a magnetic side), etc. So, I hang mine on a clip with one of those things that allows you to pull the badge away from your body . . . . can't remember the name of it though.

I always introduce myself also. I learned that in nursing school. :D

steph

I learned a trick to the "backwards badge" issue in my very first rotation in nursing school because it drove our instructor nuts. Put a safety pin on your top and attach the name badge to that. It works really well.

We just have the photo ID card on our lanyard , and states whether your an RN, EN, medical staff.

I don't believe in displaying surnames though, why would the patient need to know your surname? A nurse i know received phone calls from one of her patients, i'm not putting myself at risk.

We wear badges with our picture, name (first and last) and title clipped to the shirt somewhere (never at the waist or below per policy). As I work in psych, I covered up my last name with a white label and flipped my badge inward against the "resource" card we wear so that no matter which way it's turned you never see it. I always introduce myself to my patients by first name. I've already had one patient report me to adult protective services for breaking her "rolex" (nothing came of it), but I'm really paranoid about patients finding out my full name (or following me out of the parking lot).

Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
We have badges with our pics, name, and title. Nurses also have a plastic tag that sits behind our badge that states "RN" in big white letters against a blue background or "LVN" in big blue letters against a white background. It hangs far enough down so the RN/LVN is below your badge and it just looks like it's a part of your badge. That was admins idea of id'ing us so the pts would at least know who the nurses are.

We have the same thing except our RN is on a Red background. And if our badge is flipped they still can see the RN

Specializes in Emergency Room.

Besides having vertical nametags with our info displayed on them, my hospital went to a classified scrub color system a few years ago. Nursing wears navy bottoms with a white top, top has the name of the hospital and "RN" embroidered on it (LPN embroidered for LPNs). Techs wear another color, housekeeping another color, transport techs another, etc. Patients have found it to be very informative - even if you have terrible eyesight, you can still tell who just walked into your room. I also love it. You can always tell who is in your department, and I think it just looks more professional.

Clips come loose very easily and that is why I use a lanyard...it seems like when I had a clip on my uniform, my badge was always falling off (and to me, that is a security issue in itself), so the lanyard allows me to wear it and it's secure.

Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I don't like dangling badges...never have. When I become a real nurse I figure just slap some velcro hooks on the back my badge and then sew the loops on my scrubs and be done with the dangly badge.

I've kinda been wondering if the dangly badges aren't perhaps a nice little pathogen reservoir.

Specializes in Med-Surg, ER.

There are badge holders that will not allow your badge to flip backwards. Search for 'retractable badge reel "twist free" ' and you'll find many options. They have tabs at the top of the badge clip that lock into the reel and keep the badge facing forwards. I've been using one of these for a year now and it works great.

I am also a big advocate of proper identification, and it drives me crazy when people intentionally obscure or hide their ID. It is unprofessional and a potential security issue.

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