Name Badges

RN2B2005 · Feb 13, 2003

When I worked at a hospital where we had to wear ID badges, I chose to use my maiden name for my last name. They did give us the option of using only a last initial, but (and this is me personally, not passing judgment on anyone else here) I think that using first and last is more professional looking.

I have a very common maiden name (think 16 pages in the phone book and 27 listings with my EXACT name) so that worked well. I never had a problem with anyone contacting me outside of the office, but I wasn't an RN, either. The only time patients have ever contacted me outside the office was when I was pregnant, and a couple of patients bought me baby gifts. Then, I sent thank-you notes.

My husband has a very unusual last name (everyone in the phone book with his last name is immediate family), and he's a high-school assistant principal, so we have gotten a few prank calls. The advent of caller ID, though, has made that a little less fun than before--easy to call the caller back and ask to speak to the parents.

We thought about paying for an unlisted number, but what's the point? Anyone who tries hard enough can find the number. We have a big dog and I know where all the exits are--two advantages against any would-be stalker.:roll

OBNURSEHEATHER · Feb 13, 2003

Originally posted by BadBird
Or turn your badge backwards unless the suits are looking.

I rely on actually showing my badge to my patients pretty heavily. It's part of our infant saftey program. Anyone responsible for handling children or newborns has a different colored badge, and we drill the parents with this. So when I walk into a room to get a baby for a ped, the parents are conditioned to ask to see my badge.

And I've always hated that the patient goes hone with discharge papers signed with my full name. Lickily it's a real humdinger of a last name, and if I do it right, I can run all the vowels together and it is still legible if need be, but porbably not to someone that's never read it before.

Heather

CindyJRN · Feb 13, 2003

I wish I could give you a great solution, but I don't know what would change your managers' minds. The hospital I work in has our first name and licensure only, all disciplines. Even when I call the Dr. I am in the habit of saying "this is Cindy, RN from LifeCare". I do know that years ago when I would take call as the ADON I had the DON stop putting our pager/home numbers on the staff schedule posted in the hallway because I started getting calls from family members/patients! I also know the workplace has tightened rules over the years about giving out employee phone numbers. If I knew someone was giving out numbers, I would take action immediately!!! Other than the suggestions already listed like an unlisted number, I don't know. Maybe if enough employees request new tags, it will change at your facility. By the way, where I work now we clock in & out with our BARCODED nametags, so there is no reason to have the full name!! :rolleyes:

fergus51 · Feb 13, 2003

Originally posted by ERNurse752
All the more reason to sign your name illegibly at all times.

:roll Unfortunately the front of the chart has a place where we have to PRINT our full name in block letters, then our signature, then out initials. You can't hide it.

Plus the way I figure it, if some patient wants to stalk me they don't need my last name, they know where I work.

Jamesdotter · Feb 13, 2003

It's interesting that we've gone to using first names. When I was in school, our badges were "Miss J. Doe", and we were referred to as either "Miss Doe" (most of us were single), or just "Doe". My mother, who became a nurse in the 1920's, was always referred to by her last name by her colleagues, as well.

PowerPuffGirl · Feb 13, 2003

Well, if we use last names, that'll be fabulous for those of us with last names like Payne!

CindyJRN · Feb 14, 2003

:chuckle :chuckle :rotfl:

OK, Nurse PowerPuff, I promise not to tease the Nurse Payne who I work with and like with "this is Nurse Payne in my rear"

:nurse: I don't know, I've always preferred to be called Cindy, but some people may prefer the last name.

neneRN, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2003

We have our first name and initial of last name on our badges. We also have a four digit employee ID number on them. I work in the ER and we actually have a policy forbidding us from giving out our last name to pts; if for some reason (for complaints, legal issues, whatever) the pt insists for our full name, we are to give out this employee ID number as it distinguishes us from anyone else.

If we didn't have this policy, I would still never wear my full name on my badge-you can find any nurse's full address and license number by typing in the name on the DOH's licensing website. That's scary.

deespoohbear · Feb 14, 2003

Originally posted by OBNURSEHEATHER
And I've always hated that the patient goes hone with discharge papers signed with my full name. Lickily it's a real humdinger of a last name, and if I do it right, I can run all the vowels together and it is still legible if need be, but porbably not to someone that's never read it before.

Heather

This thought just occurred to me while I was reading this thread. Fortunately all the years I have worked as a nurse, only one patient called me at home...an elderly neighbor lady who called to ask me when she was to take her husband to the doctor's office for his bloodwork. I wasn't too afraid that Henrietta would stalk me.... Of course, I live in a very rural, tight-knit community....I know 3/4 of the patients I care for at the hospital....

Our badges just have our first names on them, and our credentials/licensure/area....My tag says Becky, RN Nursing Services. When I discharge somebody, I always sign my name using R. *****, RN. My name on my license is Rebecca so I sign all legal documents that way....Hopefully some of our not so bright patients will not be able to figure out that Becky is a nickname for Rebecca.... :rolleyes: If I ever had any doubt that my safety was in jeopardy you can bet that my tag would be off and just my initials would be on the discharge papers...

Does anyone else find it strange that with all the privacy issues going on with HIPAA and protecting our patients' privacy that the people who made up these laws could care less about the nurses' and other healthcare workers' right to privacy? A patient calling you at home IS an invasion of your privacy. I like Lausana's idea of giving the patient the number of the boneheaded administrators homes....bet that would change things in a hurry.....

RNforLongTime · Feb 14, 2003

We have our full names on our badges at my facility. I don't like it. There's too many crazies out there!

rileygrl11, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2003

Try putting those cutesy stickers on your last name (esp a flag since most people won't object to showing your patriotism). When all else fails let the name tag "accidentally" keep flipping over when around pts. Other than that, I agree with approaching risk management. Maybe if more of us complain, they will listen. Fortunately, the hospital I work at lets us decide how we want our name printed on our badge.

fergus51 · Feb 14, 2003

I don't really find it scary. If some crazy wants to get me, they know where I work. Don't need my last name to wait for me in the parkade.