Is it presumptuous to have your steth engraved RN when you're a student?

[~Melissa~]

I'm just curious. :) I'm looking at a Littman Classic II (raspberry tubing/rainbow chest piece) and was thinking I would have it engraved with my name and... Dare I say it? "RN!"

Is that presumptuous of me as a new nursing student or is that common practice if you're buying a nicer 'scope out of the starting box?

[portalhop]

Well, as already stated, most states protect the title of RN ("nurse"), and thus it is in poor judgment to represent yourself as such when you are not one. I would still recommend getting a nicer stethoscope at the beginning of school, and just getting the title of RN added onto it later. My friends who purchased cheap stethoscopes at the beginning of school are now having to buy nice ones, and it's $20-$30 that they could have saved by just getting a nice scope to start off with. Plus, a lot of their cheap stethoscopes broke!

[miasmom]

Future rn. Can scratch out future when pass nclex. Keeping hope alive.

[RubberDuckieLove]

I have that scope!! I love the rainbow head! Good pick

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I had my stethoscope engraved with my initials when I was in nursing school. Then I got married, and my initials no longer match my stethoscope. Just something to think about when you're getting it engraved! You might just want to stick with your first name and your title (once you've earned it).

[S. Hall, BSN, RN]

I had my stethoscope engraved with my initials when I was in nursing school. Then I got married, and my initials no longer match my stethoscope. Just something to think about when you're getting it engraved! You might just want to stick with your first name and your title (once you've earned it).

This. I'm married but have't changed my last name yet, so I decided to just engrave my first name with a little decoration at each end.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I wouldn't do it. First, you may give the wrong impression to those who see the engraving and assume you're already an RN. Second, some states have protections regarding use of "nurse", "LPN", and "RN", and you could find yourself in hot water over it.

https://www.ncsbn.org/Nursing_Licensure.pdf

Ok, let's not exaggerate.

Yes, get it engraved with RN..it will give you an incentive.

Then...take a small piece of colored tape and fold it over the "RN" portion.

Take it off when you graduate.

Problem solved. That's what I did. Nobody in the engraving police is going to come knocking on your door.

[Ebbi]

My stethoscope is engraved "Nurse" then my first name, middle initial, and last name. I did it for motivation. I know that I will be a nurse! I did not choose RN because I want to go much further than just RN; I would eventually like to be an NP and get my DNP. Either way I will always be a nurse. I am already a nurse at heart as a nursing student...I am not calling my self a nurse yet "legally" but I do not see anything wrong with calling my stethoscope Nurse whoever...it is mine I paid for it and no one sees the engraving but me, my patients, and a possible thief maybe. I introduce myself as a student and if questions arise as to why I engraved my stethoscope with "Nurse" I have no problem giving the same answer I have above. In any event, YOU pay for YOUR stethoscope and it is YOUR decision on what to engrave on it. I believe if it is not offensive it is fine.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Ah, but your patients count. Some of them will not ask. Some of them will not hear your "I'm a student" explanation or remember it if they do.

You cannot give them any reason t think you are a nurse unless you are one, and you aren't one until the BoN says you are, and they won't say that until you pass NCLEX. Cover over the "nurse" part with tape.

Besides, if your patients can see it, others can too. Believe me, most real nurses would take umbrage at a student calling herself "nurse," and could report it to your faculty. Then you get the same talking-to we give here. Only difference: it doesn't matter if we're annoyed, but it does matter if your faculty are. Your call, though.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I'd just have my name engraved because if I just had my current stuff, it'd be hard to fit RN on there later.

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I wish they have the rainbow head when I got mine!

Mine is engraved SunshineDaisy. For real! I am forever correcting my niece. She always says I'm a nurse. I say no, I'm a student nurse, big difference. She says same thing. Uh, no, I do not have RN after my name yet!

[ShyeoftheTiger]

Call me superstitious, but the NCLEX is super hard! I wouldn't want to jinx myself!

[Stephalump]

I'd say it's the very definition of presumptuous, no? It's taking quite a liberty to engrave a title you have yet to earn for no really great reason that I can see.

Worst case scenario, you graduate and your stethoscope doesn't say RN. Not really a great tragedy.