I am a nursing student in my final semester of nursing school. I am greatly looking forward to finally becoming a nurse. I was wondering how many of you sign your names:
Jane/John Doe, RN, BSN
Is this normal? Is it something big headed students do the first few months and then stop doing? I was just wondering! To me... if an MD signs:
Jane/John Doe, MD
Due to what can be taken as his pride in his degree, why not nurses?! Call me naive, but I'm going to be proud to be a nurse!
I have BSN behind my RN on my hospital badge. I earned it. As far as signing my initials and signature for a MAR or discharge instructions, for instance, I just add RN behind it, which is what most do... some put BSN.... but I'm over myself, others just need to get a grip. =)
Just for the every day stuff I sign my name and RN but with official reports or 485's (medicare stuff lol) I sign with my BSN. I also sign my BSN with any chart or legal reviews I do. I'm old school and did the generic BSN so worked my tail off for it with my son 3 years old when I graduated. I earned it I'll use it but I dont abuse it. They didnt have online programs when I did mine, I actually had to go to classes, didnt have computers in class, or blackberries to use lol. Just good old handwriting and listening. So yes I use my BSN after official signature. One of my other CLM's is a non practicing ARNP yet signs all her work with her title also. Every where I have worked until my current position always put the BSN after my name, RN, BSN on my name tag also.
do you mean signing your name, RN outside of your job?? i never sign my name with RN behind it anywhere outside of work. I think it makes you seem like you are showing off or something. I cant imagine signing a check or signing for my credit card and writing RN behind my name. I dont think theres any need for it...sure im proud of myself for becoming a nurse but that doesnt mean I should let everyone know "hey look at me, im an RN."
I do sign RN behind my name on almost everything. Not to "Show off" but because it has become habit. With online bill paying - I pay almost everything over the internet. I rarely have to write a check. When I do, without fail, I sign RN whether I mean to or not. It just comes naturally.
If the rest of the world wants to view it as showing off, they can. I worked hard for this. I earned it, and I am super-proud to be in one of the most honorable fields ever: nursing.
Not ashamed to scream it from the rooftops,
~Sherri S., RN
"A new nurse thinks like a mom. An experienced nurse thinks like a lawyer."
I am a nursing student in my final semester of nursing school. I am greatly looking forward to finally becoming a nurse. I was wondering how many of you sign your names:
Jane/John Doe, RN, BSN
Is this normal? Is it something big headed students do the first few months and then stop doing? I was just wondering! To me... if an MD signs:
Jane/John Doe, MD
Due to what can be taken as his pride in his degree, why not nurses?! Call me naive, but I'm going to be proud to be a nurse!
My view ...
For all the day to day stuff I sign Altra, RN. The "RN" indicates my functional position, i.e., I am signing as a licensed registered nurse. The licensure is relevant, my BSN is not.
BTW -- physicians sign "MD" or "DO" after their name for the same reason -- it indicates their functional licensure.
I do add "BSN" and "CEN" if I am signing a letter of recommendation for a student, preparing something for a staff education presentation or something else academically-related.
First initial. Last name, RN. I'm a RN, BSN but believe me after you have to note every single order when you start working..you won't want to take up any extra time initialing every single degree and credential. We work hard enough as it is.
When I started nursing my signature changed from looking very neat and legible to scribbles and a RN at the end scribbled as well. My signature is very individualistic, so you can tell it is mine, however when you are doing paper charting and have to write "John P. Smith, RN, BSN" it gets a bit tedious, and, well, not needed.
I don't write RN, BSN on my checks, although I could for all rights do so. I *do* hold those rights. I don't by choice, by necessity (My name is long and I hardly have enough room for my signature on them ... I *do* still retain the 'neat' signature for checks and such), and because I love to talk about my profession, but I'm bored with hearing, "I couldn't never do what you do!" speech. It sounds stupid, but if you DIDN'T put that, then you fit into the crowd and people don't notice you as much / don't bother you with 30 minutes of talking about their mom that just had a cath and needed a CABG x4 w/ valve replacement, but they couldn't do it for a week, and then she was in the hospital for 4 weeks, ETC ETC ETC ETC. I work way too much dealing with folks in the hospital to bring that home with me. Sounds stupid, I'm sure, but when I'm home I want to be a guy, scratch my butt, mow the lawn, wash my car, and maybe drink a beer or two in there somewhere.
MassED, BSN, RN
2,636 Posts
I have BSN behind my RN on my hospital badge. I earned it.
As far as signing my initials and signature for a MAR or discharge instructions, for instance, I just add RN behind it, which is what most do... some put BSN.... but I'm over myself, others just need to get a grip. =)