How would you feel....

Nurses Activism

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I am an RN and work in an office setting. Our office consists of 2 RNs and 5 LPNs and up until now we've had nameplates on our walls that indicate our name and title. Recently, new nameplates were ordered for the entire building, only this time, our titles are not included. We've been told that it is simply a verification of our work location and that many people have worked hard for various credentials, but no one in the building has credentials on their nameplates. (We're the only medical personnel in the building) To me, it's a different story in the medical field to have your credentials on something like this. Does anyone see this as disrespectful or are we overreacting?

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I work at a big university and they issued us all new badges this year. No credentials on any of them. Must be a trend....

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Weird? I think credentials help clients understand who is who. I would feel mightily confused as a patient if I didn't know who was the RN, who was the provider, who was the secretary, etc.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
Weird? I think credentials help clients understand who is who. I would feel mightily confused as a patient if I didn't know who was the RN, who was the provider, who was the secretary, etc.

In my state health care practitioners must disclose their name and license status. In most settings this is by wearing a name tag.

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-i-27.pdf

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

My state requires that nurses working in any environment as a nurse must be identified as such (RN or LPN). Usually this is accomplished by a name tag that includes level of licensure. Fail for a nurse or employer to do so can result in a civil penalty if reported to the BoN.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
In my state health care practitioners must disclose their name and license status. In most settings this is by wearing a name tag.

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-i-27.pdf

Same goes for my state.

Just moved to a new office setting a couple of months ago. I had not noticed anything regarding credentials on our new work stations.

Now I see that no one has their credentials after their name, not even the doctors.

This company spent big bucks on a newly designed, "collaborative" office space. I am thinking the absence of the credentials was purposeful.

As long as I am paid the RN rate, I'm good.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I see it as a dangerous trend. We've all encountered personnel who identify themselves as "nurses" when they aren't. Employers seem to be going along with this subterfuge under the guise of "we're all equal". Of course we're equal, but the public has a legal right to know the credentials of those providing their care. Once everyone is seen as a "nurse" they will no longer have to pay the real ones.

Do managers have their business title on their name plate?

At my doctors office, none of the staff (excluding the pa and md) have their credentials on their name badges..just the name. I too think this is on purpose. Everyone looks the same (is in scrubs) and everyone walks around with no identification on their badge other than their name. I think this is a subtle way of training the public to accept that everyone is "the same" and "no need to identify who the nurse is".

Years ago, when nurses wore white and looked like a nurse, if was easy for patients to pinpoint exactly who the nurse was and demand to only speak with them.

When I got my badge at my facility, I was told I was only allowed to include my nursing degree, since it was the only degree required for my position. I was also told no national certifications. So no BS, MS or CCRN. Just ADN. To be honest, it kind of hurts my feelings that I don't get to display my hard earned credentials. And people to make judgements: "Oh really, just an ADN? Isn't that cute?"

I kind of accepted it as Just The Rules, until I started noticing other nurses' badges and many DO have CCRN, BS (not BSN), and even saw one that had a PhD (not in nursing). So its completly inconsistent; I guess it depends on who is making the badges when you get hired. :(

Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I bought a bunch of CCRN badge holders for myself and my friends the kind with a retractable cord.

If I had an office, and I don't, I would frame my degree and certification and put them on the wall or on a shelf.

It might help to read up on flat organizations that strive to eliminate middle management and hierarchies and which strive to decentralize the decision making process to well qualified employees.

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