Help! How do I sign my name??

[Epona]

Hello. I am a new RN. I have one degree a BS, and then I just got my BSN. How do I sign my name?? My hubby is buying me a scrub jacket with my name on it for Christmas and I want to make sure I have it right. :redpinkhe So would it be my name then RN, BS, BSN?? I got the BS first-- I did study the sciences with a concentration in Pre Med, so I do want to list the first BS degree as well as my nursing degree.

:tku: :tree: ?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

While you had a "concentration in pre-med", your BS is not a degree IN pre-med. Pre-med is a pathway of courses, not a matriculated degree. No matter how proud you are of whatever your BS is in, it does not belong on your lab jacket.

Nancy Nurse, RN, is what it should say, period. If you REALLY REALLY want to have that BSN in there, then you can have it say Nancy Nurse, BSN, RN. That would be correct.

Nursing degrees and licensure belong after your name; it's what's relevant to what you do, regardless of whatever else you may have done in the past.

[meandragonbrett]

BSN, RN would be proper. Your other BS is irrelevant in the hospital setting. This is not academia.

[BluegrassRN]

I have a couple of degrees and certifications for which I worked very hard, and of which I am very proud, but I do not include them in my signature. I would not include them unless they are *directly* related to your degree. I also have an ASN and am working on my BSN. I sign my name Bluegrass, RN and will continue to do so.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

I have multiple degrees to include my MBA. I do not see anything wrong with adding the BSN if you wish. As the others mentioned, there is no need for anything else. BTW, NO ONE I know signs "BSN" behind their name when sigining documents. RN is all that anyone uses. Besides, MDs, PAs, RTs, etc do not sign anything other then their license even though they have multiple degrees and certs too. Also, as a RN you will be signing a lot of documents in a day. The less titles, degrees, and certs you mention the better for your writing hand!

FYI, my scrub jacket reads, "First name Last initial (I do not want every Joe Shmoe knowing my name and looking me up), RN Emergency Nurse" (The latter part is only listed to facilitate the return of my jacket to the correct department if lost...).

[etaylor900]

I think that you could sign BSN, RN if you want to but that all you really need to put is the RN after your name.

[elkpark]

Of course, you (the OP) can do whatever you want to and have certainly earned the other, non-nursing degree, but most healthcare people's reaction to your including the extra degree in your signature and on a lab coat is going to be that it (and, therefore, you) is silly and pretentious.

[kwvath]

I agree with OneKidneyNurse - I have always heard that you put the college degrees first, followed by the professional license - the thought is disciplinary action may take away an RN license but they will not take away your college degree.

Also, I agree with several of the other posts: RN is all that is necessary when charting. I would leave off the college degrees with common charting or signatures. As far as "showing off" when using it with other professional writing or business cards...I wouldn't worry about it. We worked hard for that degree and it does give others an idea of what types of training we have. I have my BSN but I don't look at those who sign the MSN as if they are trying to show-off or put me down. They just have more formal education-not necessarily more experience. They worked hard for their degrees - why not write it behind their names?

[HmarieD]

I actually heard a state surveyor complain about a nurse signing her documentation "Nancy Nurse, RN, BSN". She stated (correctly) that it is completely unnecessary in that context, and she seemed very put off. I believe she really went over that particular medical record with a fine tooth comb just hoping to catch Nancy Nurse and her BSN in a mistake.

That said, have whatever you like on your scrubs. Just be prepared for an eye roll every now and again.

[CHRISTOPHERSDAD]

RN is all

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I too have several degress but per state requirements, I am traumarus, APN and that's it.

Good luck and congrats.

[FrogKissingNurse]

I think it is fine to put your name and BSN, RN on your scrubs. However when signing your name on documents I would just use RN. For business cards and such show off a little and add all your degrees!

[meandragonbrett]

I sign RN, CCRN