Last names on ID badges and retaliation by patients

babynurselsa, RN · Sep 13, 2005

I had a so-worker a few years ago that an enamored pt looked up his phone # and started calling his house.....Needless to say his wife was not impressed.

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

I guess I had'nt thought of that. I know our school also uses full names on the name badge. If I knew your full name, and you owned a home, it would take me 2 seconds to find out your address. I could probably even find a picture of it. Scary, huh? Unfortunately, my last name is rare, and there's only 2 of us in town. The other one is my mother in law, and she only lives 2 blocks away, so it wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience for someone to make the drive. Hmmmm. Let us know how you approached the subject with the school and any outcomes.

Woogy

DusktilDawn · Sep 13, 2005

A few years ago a former co-worker had a patient that found out her address and phone number and started stalking her. There really is no reason to have our last names on our badges as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps administration just wants to make sure people spell our whole name right when they make a "customer complaint."

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

There really is no reason to have our last names on our badges as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps administration just wants to make sure people spell our whole name right when they make a "customer complaint."

In some places, it is a legal requirement, I believe. I do know that New York State law dictates that nurses on duty must wear a name tag that clearly identifies them and their designation. It is a consumer protection issue and part of being a professional that renders care to the public.

Would you want an MD that you do not know the last name of?

While I am not at all happy with the requirement, I can understand the reasoning behind it. By the same token, there are patients that would probably not want some of us to know their last names and extensive medical issues but we need them to do our jobs.

That said, I have never (!!!!) had a patient track me down outside of work. And I have been working in many locales and for at least 13 years.

fergus51 · Sep 13, 2005

If you don't want people to be able to look you up, it's a good idea to get an unlisted number/address. If someone really wants to know where you live all they have to do is follow you from the hospital.

Fortunately I don't know any nurses who have been stalked in any way outside of work by patients/family members. I have always thought patients had the right to know who their caregivers were.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

"By the same token, there are patients that would probably not want some of us to know their last names and extensive medical issues but we need them to do our jobs."

Do you really need to know the last name of your patient to do your job? I don't even need to know their first name. Many times we don't know anything about the patient, but we are able to do our jobs. It is nice when we know at least their medical history, but a name is meaningless in my ability to do my job. None of our trauma patients have a real name until later in their treatment.

As an ER nurse, I haven't had my last name on my name tag in so long, I can't even remember. I think...Barbara, RN is sufficient. We work with drunks, druggies, psychos all the time, as well as disgruntled family members who think we are not triaging their loved one fast enough. We must work in locked units with 24/7 security closeby. The last thing I want to do is advertize my full name. I think it is a huge safety issue at least in ER.

As far as knowing your MD name versus your nurses name....apples and oranges. How many times have you been in the room when the doc discusses discharge with the patient and they are completely happy, have no questions? Then the moment they leave the room and the nurse is there with DC instructions, they start complaining about not getting this test, not getting enough pain med, not getting a long enough work excuse, etc?? Happens all the time in the ER.

I have been threatened, kicked, hit and spit at over the years. Remarkably, I still love ER and would not want to work anywhere else right now in nursing. But I do think times have changed considerably, and we need to be more mindful of our safety and the safety of our co workers.

grannynurse FNP student · Sep 13, 2005

I am a nursing student who is hoping to change her school's policy on ID badges. We are currently required to display our full first and last name on our name tags at our clinical sites. I content that this is a significant safety risk to me and my fellow students, especially in light of recent incidents of violence against health care workers.
Would you be willing to share your stories with me? I am specifically looking for instances where a patient or visitor found out your name and was able to harass you as a result. I may share a few of these anecdotes in my presentation, so please let me know if I can include your story.
I am aware of an OSHA document that recommends against the use of last names on ID badges. Do you know of any other news or scholarly articles I can present to them.
Thank you all for your help :)

I have been a nurse for more then 30 years and can honestly say that only one client (yes, client not patient) ever looked and found my home. I am aware of no reliable scholarly research that addresses this issue although a review of literature will reveal a great deal of anecdotal stories.

The issue of harassment is somewhat overblown, I believe. The client, who showed up at my door, served 15 years for threatening me with a gun. While I was initially terrified, I could not imagine handing out a card with only my first name. Nor would I consider it very professional.

Grannynurse :balloons:

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 13, 2005

In some places, it is a legal requirement, I believe. I do know that New York State law dictates that nurses on duty must wear a name tag that clearly identifies them and their designation. It is a consumer protection issue and part of being a professional that renders care to the public.
Would you want an MD that you do not know the last name of?
While I am not at all happy with the requirement, I can understand the reasoning behind it. By the same token, there are patients that would probably not want some of us to know their last names and extensive medical issues but we need them to do our jobs.
That said, I have never (!!!!) had a patient track me down outside of work. And I have been working in many locales and for at least 13 years.

I can understand the consumer protection issue and I am not disagreeing with you at all. But, there are other systems that could be implemented for the safety of the nurses and nursing students. Such as assigning a code or number or number and letters (you get the point). Example: Jane, RN [id# 1545]. and maybe the hospitals initials along with it.

I don't agree with the last name on name tag. I am sure that other healthy, conventional ways can be used.

Nemhain · Sep 13, 2005

If you don't want people to be able to look you up, it's a good idea to get an unlisted number/address. If someone really wants to know where you live all they have to do is follow you from the hospital.
Fortunately I don't know any nurses who have been stalked in any way outside of work by patients/family members. I have always thought patients had the right to know who their caregivers were.

Like another poster said, if you're a home owner anybody can find out your address (even though your telephone number may be unlisted) via public documents...it's kinda scary.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

I think the patients need to be protected as well. They have a right to know the first and last name of the person caring form them, imo. I realize there are a lot of sicko patient out there and understand your concerns.

In 14 years I personally have never had a problem with someone knowing my last name.

Can you link the document where OSHA recommends first names only?

If someone wants to stalk you or cause you trouble or harm, they are going to do it regardless if your name is on the nametag or not.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 13, 2005

I know this might sound crazy....but contact an attorney, especially one that deals with employee issues and/or healthcare issues.

I've contacted one for information for a school project and they were so happy to give me the info, especially after they learned what it was for (legal and ethical stuff).

It might be worth a shot.....sometimes their legal secretaries might be able to point you in the right direction too.

Good luck and let us know what you find out!!! I currently work at a hospital that requires full names on my ID and it drives me nuts because I work in an ER and I don't want these people to know who I am....