Name Badge Credentials

Nurses General Nursing

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How do you feel about hospitals not allowing their nurses' degree credentials; e.g. BSN, MSN, Phd, to be listed on their name badge? Is this a common practice?

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

ours are just our first name and licensure.

i don't want people knowing my last name unless i give it to them. too many weirdos out there.

and as far as credentials, i dunno. i guess since i've been a patient lots of times, all i cared about was that i had a good nurse, not how many years they went to school or how many cert tests they took.

mine is just like my signature, Allison B, NREMT-P, LPN.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
My facility does not even put our last name on the badge. I think the lack of information devalues my education.

I'm sure this is done for protection issues. I have my last name on my badge and wish it wasn't. I work in home health and there are a lot of wierdo's out there that can look you up online etc and cause a lot of problems!! Been there and done that and it is NOT a good experience

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

at my hospital you can have your degrees on if you want. i just choose to have RN on my badge. alot of the RN's have all their degrees on their badges. i choose not to. i never had my degreees on my badge , i just never have. no real reason.

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Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

I work in psych so I would love it if they wouldn't allow us to put on our last names!! Not only do they not allow it but I have been told in more then one hospital that we legally HAVE to put out last name. Patients right or some crap. So when nurses black out their last name they can get in a lot of trouble.

Crazy I think...... Then when I did a travel assignment in an state correctional facility you have to put first initial only and last name then credentials. Like I want to have some criminal having my last name.

As far as credentials, Most of the places I have been put on RN only and give the option to put on anything more-- the couple of places I have been that allowed it I did put that on--- an BTW an example in a post had BSN, MSN...you don't put the lower degree once you have acheived the next level of degree. It is assumed that if you have a MSN then you have a BSN.....and I agree that certifications should not go on, only credentials and professional Licensures--not the same thing.... RN, MD, LPN, NP, PA--those are licentures,

Credentials are education, only putting your highest level, and credentials for the specialty designations like CCN......However..... BLS, ACLS,PALS those totally don't belong on a badge.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I know at my facility every registered nurse has RN after their name, diploma nurses and nurses with an ADN do not have anything else besides "RN" after their name. However, nurses who have earned a BSN are able to have BSN, MSN or Ph.D are able to have those credentials put after their name. Beneath their name is their department/specialty. My only qualm with our system is that with the support staff it is rather difficult to distinguish nursing support staff from other technicians. For example, some CNAs have their name and below it will say "Adult Med./Surg." or something to that effect rather then Certified Nursing Assistant, when I had mine made I told them that I wanted it to say Certified Nursing Assistant and not "Adult Med./Surg." in case I switched departments. For my badge it says:

Christopher ---------------

Certified Nursing Assistant

I think that's better because it helps to distinguish me from the secretary or unit assistant who has their name and "Adult Med./Surg." on their badge too. It seems like such a little thing but even as a CNA I worked hard for my state certification and I want it to be displayed.

!Chris :specs:

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Thanks for your clarification. I agree and understand that only the highest degree should be listed. I also believe that in a profession where higher education is highly encouraged, the highest degree should be listed on the name badge. This is an interesting discussion and is opening up some good discussion. I did not realize that magnet hospitals also encourage the displaying of last names, which I would also be very weary of for the safety reasons mentioned.

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Specializes in cardiac.
Thanks for your clarification. I agree and understand that only the highest degree should be listed. I also believe that in a profession where higher education is highly encouraged, the highest degree should be listed on the name badge. This is an interesting discussion and is opening up some good discussion. I did not realize that magnet hospitals also encourage the displaying of last names, which I would also be very weary of for the safety reasons mentioned.
We ar Magnet. They still insist on on our last names bring displayed on our badges. I was told that if I tried to cover it up, that I would have to answer to the almighty powers. My response," really?" Cracks me up every time I think about it:smokin:

P.S. I'm still there!!!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Personally I'm not terribly crazy about having my last name on my badge but I don't really think about it too much, usually my badge ends up getting flipped over while I'm working anyway. I'm sure that if an ADN or diploma nurse wanted those titles printed after their name then I think that they could have them but I think in all honestly its the BSN who wants everyone to know that they're not just an RN but an RN with a Bachelor's degree. Before I get any flames I will be the first to say that I have met BSN nurses who are horrible nurses and diploma or ADN nurses who are amazing. I think that the degree isn't as important as the type of nurse you are but since you worked hard for your degree (no matter what degree) you should have the right to show it.

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Specializes in OB, ER.

We do not have last names on our badge and I would be very upset if we had to. Do you want the crazy, drunk gangster that just called you a hoe and threatened to kick your ass in the parking lot knowing your last name? Yes this scenario happens frequently in the ER and with my full name they can find my house and my kids. No thank you!

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Agree, the less patients know about me the better. Obviously, they need to know my level of licensure and that I am qualified to provide care. Credentials after your name are great for forums or conferences to show your peers your professional qualifications. However, I find most patients want competent care, and could care less about all the letters after your name.

With that, I really do not care what you put after your name. So, I would not have a problem working with somebody who has every BLS course they have ever completed documented on their nametag. Smoke em if you got em, I guess.

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Specializes in ER/OR.

The facility I'm looking into only has RN, no matter what the degree. Frankly, after RN most patients don't know or care what all that alphabet soup means. There's a certain line where it goes from being imperative information to being an awkward display of bragging rights which tends to only display the inferiority-complex of the badge wearer!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

Our IDs have photo, our first name (or nickname we prefer to go by) in large capital letters, and then under our photo it lists our full name & license

Mine simply says Katie Lastname, RN

We don't list degrees, certifications, etc at our facility.

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