How Many Letters Do We Need?

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 3, 2017

Is what a nurse thing?

I have my MSN and two certifications and I'm a bit embarrassed when people see all the letters. The only time I use them is on my business cards and my email signature file (and for academic publications or things like that).

I don't see the point of getting letters for letters' sake.

Then again, I'm NOT "show biz," so...

Asystole RN · Jan 3, 2017

I do not think there is anything wrong with collecting letters and I personally think it is fun, a personal professional challenge to myself.

I personally must maintain my certifications for my position and it is generally seen as advantageous to have as many letters as possible but I work in a corporate environment.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 3, 2017

I am BTDT, ADN. I make six figures working part time.

I do not feel the need for any additional education, certifications, or letters after my title.

My gratification comes on payday. My salary is deposited to my checking account, while I work from home in my pajamas.

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 3, 2017

It's not the length of the list that counts, it's the quality of the things on the list that matter most to me. I see lots of people with long lists, but I am not particularly impressed with what the letters actually stand for?

For the record, I only list my highest degree -- not the way it appears on top of my posts.

llg, PhD, RN-BC

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jan 3, 2017

I understand. My three certs represent personal challenges to excel at the three areas of my practice: pediatrics, peds critical care and education. I did them for ME and ME only. The only people I make call me 'Doctor' are my kids. Like klone- mine appear on my business cards and email signature only. Well, and here MeanMaryJean DNP, RN-BC, CCRN, CNE :sneaky:

Emergent, RN · Jan 3, 2017

I am Emergent RN- GRAMMA. I finally achieved my life's goal.

Scottishtape · Jan 3, 2017

I am BTDT, ADN. I make six figures working part time.
I do not feel the need for any additional education, certifications, or letters after my title.
My gratification comes on payday. My salary is deposited to my checking account, while I work from home in my pajamas.

Out of curiosity, what do you do?

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 4, 2017

I am BTDT, ADN. I make six figures working part time.
I do not feel the need for any additional education, certifications, or letters after my title.
My gratification comes on payday. My salary is deposited to my checking account, while I work from home in my pajamas.

No animosity intended, but I'm curious as to how many posts contain your "six figures, part time in pajamas" statement? Personally, I have seen it many, MANY times.

However, I have to think that your 6-figure-in-pajamas situation is an anomaly. It's definitely not a routine position that one could base a career goal upon. And thus I wonder about constantly putting forth your current situation as an incentive to new nurses. You have a GREAT, high-paying position. No doubt about that. But, I suspect that your posts are more dis-couraging (as in "I could NEVER find that very, very rare position") to new nurses than an en-couraging post.

Davey Do · Jan 4, 2017

I am impressed by those with higher education and lots of letters behind their names.

Especially if they act like they know what they're doing.

I started to go for my BSN, as it was requirement for a position as a nursing supervisor. But when I was given a lateral move (out the door), I said the heck with it. I was really tired of the classroom stuff after I got my ASN, but one more class got me an ADN.

I stuck all those letters after my name on this site because I could. It shows that I've done a lot of grunt work, of which I'm proud.

heinz57 · Jan 4, 2017

I think it is a nurse thing to shun education. As a profession, more time has been wasted trying to get out of education than advancing professional and personal growth. There are too many ADN vs BSN discussions. There are too many education shaming discussions such as the recent one about putting BSN on a badge.

If you didn't want to continue with your education by degree or additional certificates, you probably should have chosen a different career path. Medicine is constantly changing. Unfortunately nursing still has so many who don't want change. We still hear "That is the way we have always done it and it has been good enough" . No time for that EBM crap. But then, we also get "Everyone makes more than us". Minimal standards and minimal expectations are the low points of nursing. Stagnation in an unmotivated profession burns out the best and leaves us stuck in a rut.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2017

I do not think there is anything wrong with collecting letters and I personally think it is fun, a personal professional challenge to myself.

I think it's fun, too - hence, why I could be taking just the pre-reqs for my next great educational challenge but chose to round it out with a whole bunch of other stuff to pick up a third bachelor's instead.

There's something just not satisfying about stopping short of another degree or another set of letters. I need to find another nursing cert I'm eligible for and study for that... :laugh: