Name Badges

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2003

Guess I never thought about it. DH and I are unlisted as he is management in his field. In 16 years, I have never heard of this happening in our hospital.

New CCU RN · Feb 13, 2003

I have never gotten a phone call at home. Although I do understand your concerns. We commonly have inpatient inmates and I take my badge off before going in the room to take care of them. I just keep it in my pocket. As soon as I am done, I put it back on. May be paranoid....but heck..they are criminals...all they need to know is my first name.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2003

We dont have both names on our badges,, we have our choice of first name and last initial,, or last name and first initial. Most choose first name with last initial. If we have inmates as patients then we are required to take off the name badge before entering the room.

melsay, LPN · Feb 13, 2003

Although I do not work in the prison system, we are required to wear our badges at ALL times....

susanmary · Feb 13, 2003

Good point. On my unit, we are allowed to pick the wording of our names for our badges. I list my first/last name on my badge.

Clearly, disheartening that patients are calling you at home. I would write each incident up and document that you referred patient to MD, ED, etc. and instructed them not to contact you at home. You need to address this with management. I really am not concerned with my patients reading my last name -- sometimes it seems that they can't even remember my first name "nurse.... oh nurse...."

melsay, LPN · Feb 13, 2003

Originally posted by susanmary
You need to address this with management. [/b]

I feel as if I'm going up against a brink wall w/ management. I, and others mention this minthly at our meeting, no results to date....doubtful that there ever will be, until something terrible happens.

New CCU RN · Feb 13, 2003

It isn't in the prison system.... it is a regular hospital, we just have a contract with the prison system to treat the state's inmates. This is fine with me.... they usually are very appreciative of your care and the break from the prison. However, I will not let them know my last name. It is technically against policy.... we are supposed to have our badges on at all times... and with every other patient I do.

New CCU RN · Feb 13, 2003

That is kind of strange though the more I think about it...pt's calling you at home?

Has anyone else experienced this?

susanmary · Feb 13, 2003

Mangement doesn't back you up? I'd still fill out a report each and every time and keep a copy. I don't know what your recourse is -- but I think it's terrible. I'd let risk management know what is happening. I would never give advice from home -- you are not "on the clock" and you will not be covered from your facility. Hang in there -- I'm guessing that you will get some great advice from fellow posters on this subject. Sue

melsay, LPN · Feb 13, 2003

Originally posted by New CCU RN
[
Has anyone else experienced this? [/b]

Yes, I work in a 6 MD, 2 NP office where all 6 of the nurses there have experienced this problem at one time or another. And the majority of us it happens to on a weekly basis. The 2 CNA's haven't had this problem to date.

mother/babyRN, RN · Feb 13, 2003

On my badge, I put a piece of tape over my last name if I am concerned...