Name Badge Credentials

Published

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 Critical Care.
Would you say that to a soldier who has earned various badges of honor?? It shows his committement to his profession...and yes HE/SHE wears it PROUDLY!

A soldier doesn't wear his medals into combat, either.

Edit: Medic09 beat me. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, M-S, FP, Women's Health.

Simba,

Take a deep breath here........

Help me understand this....You accepted a better paying job at another hospital. In orientation today, WHY did you bolt? and WHY did you submit a letter of resignation to HR?

Just curious.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

As for the last name thing, every place I've worked, I have flat out REFUSED to have my last name on the badge for safety reasons, even going so far as to have a meeting with the HR Director. I've never had to have it put on yet...ironically now I have business and appointment cards now for patients that have my last name on them!! LOL

A separate issue: I don't particularly understand why the last name is a safety issue. Are your doctors only known and introduced to your patients via first name also? If not, why the double standard?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, M-S, FP, Women's Health.
A separate issue: I don't particularly understand why the last name is a safety issue.

Work in psych as a nurse and you'll quickly understand why last names should be protected information.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Work in psych as a nurse and you'll quickly understand why last names should be protected information.

Do your psychiatrists use their last name? Why or why not is it different for them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My name badge has my first name, last name, and RN. I work in a magnet hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric.

I never liked using my last name because I was with the patients on the floor for 12 hours at a time, and they usually got more attached to me and got to know me better than they knew the psychiatrists. We are also the ones who 'set the rules' and 'establish the firm limits' that a lot of the patients didn't like, which SOMETIMES makes nurses targets. I personally feel safer with my first name only.

As I said earlier now, my business cards have my last name...appointment cards have just first name...guess which one gets used more!! LOL

Okay, back to the regularly scheduled topic!!:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, M-S, FP, Women's Health.
Do your psychiatrists use their last name? Why or why not is it different for them?

Dear hypocaffeinemia,

Your inquiry is valid and appreciated. However, you must understand that Psychiatry is a TOTALLY different breed of cat in the medical arena. NO one working psych - nurses, physicians, lab techs, housekeeping - should divulge last names, ever.

EarthChild1130's post hit the mark well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

i don't have my last name on my badge, i have my first name and title, plain and simple. i have a right to privacy and i don't want my last name floating out there for the the patients i take care of. i have had pt's ask my last name and i tell them " i am sorry according to the hospital policy we are not allowed to give you our last names" when i have to sign a discharge i scribble my last name so it can't be read.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

i did read that one person posted that you have to have your last name on tag because it is a magnet hospital. that is not true, i work in a magnet hospital and you do NOT have to do that. you can have your initial or nothing at all.

-H-RN

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion